Four in spotlight as ODI’s are shrouded in controversy

The fall-out from the betting scandal continues to affect the Pakistan and England squads as they prepare for the twenty-twenty and one day international series that commence later this week.

Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt, bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal are unlikely to play any further part in Pakistan’s tour of England whilst they are investigated by the police, Pakistani government and the International Cricket Council.

The four players have not been suspend amidst allegations made by the News of the World and are free to play for their country, but whilst the Pakistani cricket management stand by them until any claims are proved true, they are expected to miss the ODI series.

The scandal continues to dominate the front and back pages of the media after the allegations arose on Sunday night, and it has shadowed what was an exciting test series and is continuing to cloud the rest of the series.

Pakistan play a practice match in Taunton against Somerset on Thursday and we’ll have a better idea of the team to face England in the first twenty-twenty game on Sunday.

One man that won’t be involved is Kevin Pietersen, who has been dropped by the England selectors and will need to find some form with Surrey – a club Pietersen has claimed to have joined today but has yet to be confirmed.

The England batsman will need to prove his form if he is to go on the Ashes tour, a series England are 9/4 to win.

Australia will be surprised to see the omission of Pietersen and they are 8/13 to win the sereis . See the full Ashes cricket betting market here.