Pakistan authorities close ranks around accused

Pakistan authorities on Tuesday closed ranks around the country's top cricketers accused of match-fixing, as British police continued to probe the sensational newspaper allegations.

Pakistan's cricket board said it would not suspend the four named players under investigation by Scotland Yard detectives over claims they deliberately bowled no-balls against England as part of a lucrative gambling scam. Three other unnamed players are part of the British police inquiry.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik hinted that the spot-fixing allegations against Pakistan's top cricketers could have been cooked up as part of a conspiracy against the national side. "If there is a conspiracy against our team to defame Pakistan then we would like to know the facts and we will exonerate ourselves," said Malik.

"We know that there have been many conspiracies against Pakistan cricket in the past and perhaps there will also be in future. We are keeping this in mind."

However Malik said that if any players were found guilty, they would be dealt with harshly. "... our whole leadership is agreed that if any player is found to be involved we will make an example out of him," said Malik.

The scandal has thrown Pakistan in a spin, coming as the authorities battle to help millions of people hit by a month of devastating floods, and amid an ongoing war against Islamic militants in the country. KARACHI