Butt to leave for London to sort out issues with ECB

Well placed sources in the board told PTI that Butt will be accompanied by PCB legal advisor, Tafazzul Rizvi. "The PCB Chairman will consult with the lawyers in London about the reply that is to be sent to the England and Wales Cricket Board and English players who have demanded an unconditional apology and compensation from Butt for making a statement in which he indirectly said that English players were involved in fixing," the source said.

The PCB has directed its lawyers in London to file a reply to the letter sent to Butt by the ECB on behalf of the English players last week. "Butt will talk to the lawyers in London to find out if the dispute can be sorted out through the reply or whether he will have to meet with ECB officials directly to sort out the dispute," the source said.

The source said Butt and Rizvi are also expected to meet with Scotland Yard officials to get a briefing on the current position of the investigations into the allegations of spot-fixing involving three Pakistani players -- Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

The International Cricket Council has suspended Butt, Asif and Aamir after fixing allegations surfaced against them during the recent Lord's Test. "The Pakistan team is due to play against South Africa from next month and the PCB and its selectors naturally want to know the status of the three players for the forthcoming series," the source said.

"The PCB wants to know the progress Scotland Yard has made in its investigations because they feel the investigations have already taken too long and there is a delay in the Scotland Yard and prosecutor's office reaching a decision on whether to charge the players. They want a clear picture whether the players are going to be charged or not," the source added.

Pakistan chief selector Mohsin Khan met with Butt yesterday in Lahore to find out the availability of the suspended players for the series. "The PCB wants to know if there is a possibility that the suspension on the trio can be lifted," the source said.