Footage shows spot-fix set-up

The jury at the trial of the alleged spot-fixing case involving Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were on Tuesday shown footage of how the alleged fix was arranged and subsequently unravelled.

On the fifth morning of the trial at Southwark Crown Court, relating to one of cricket's biggest controversies, footage from a secret video camera was shown while the undercover journalist responsible for the sting operation was in the witness box, hidden from the media and public with a screen.

After the journalist, Mazhar Mahmood, handed over £140,000 (£10,000 had been handed over at a previous rendezvous) from a briefcase in a hotel room at the Copthorne Tara, off Kensington High Street in London, Majeed counted the money and then delivered the key information.

Majeed told the journalist that Mohammad Amir would bowl a no-ball on the first ball of the third over - "no signal it will just happen", that Asif would bowl a no-ball off the sixth delivery of the tenth over and then the third no-ball would be bowled by Amir with the last ball of an over he would signal by going around the wicket to the right-hander Jonathan Trott for the first time (presuming one of the left-handed openers would be out by then).

Majeed was so confident that his players would deliver the necessary no-balls for him that he told the journalist, "If they don't do it I will give you your money straight back," adding, "You will see these happen and then you will be confident."

The jury was then shown an edited recording of the first innings of that Lord's Test and witnessed the first two no-balls occurring when Majeed said they would. The third did not happen only because rain brought an early finish to the day's play.

Later that night, a phone call between Majeed and Mahmood agreed the third no-ball. Majeed told Mahmood, after checking that he was comfortable now that he had proved his influence over the players, that the third no-ball would be delivered off Amir's third ball of his third over that day.

The court was then told that on August 26, a Thursday evening, the first day of that fourth Test, how Majeed mistakenly sent a text message to Mahmood, meant for Amir, saying: 'Third ball of your third over'. After this Majeed texted Mahmood to call him, which allowed the journalist to set up his recording equipment.

The court then heard how Majeed tried to back out of the third no-ball but after Mahmood insistence that his (fictitious) cartel in the Far East had already bet on that event, he said he would happen.

When Mahmood asked Majeed if Amir had been briefed on that third no-ball, Majeed replied: "He's briefed. He just texted me to ask shall I do it or not".

Before the third no-ball was actually delivered when Majeed said it would be, Amir was bowling exceptionally well and had reduced England to 47 for 5. It was at this time, the court heard, that Majeed sent a text message to Mahmood saying 'not on', referring to the fix.

A recorded phone conversation just after explained why Majeed sent that message. Majeed said: "He (Amir) has only bowled nine balls and he's already got three wickets. All I'm saying is that he might not do it, he might not."

But Amir did subsequently bowl that no-ball and at the start of a conversation later that evening, on August 27, the court heard a recording of Majeed saying: "I'm not a joker bruv."

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Asif are facing charges of conspiracy to cheat, and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, following the Lord's Test in August last year when they allegedly conspired with agent Majeed, Amir and other people unknown to bowl pre-determined no-balls. Butt and Asif deny the charges.

The case continues.