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Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Asif has been dropped from a planned role in a South Indian film after he was embroiled in betting scam allegations, Indian media reported today. The bowler had been slated to play the lead role in the Malayalam-language film (Till The Tip Of The Rainbow), which charts the life of a Pakistani cricket coach in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
The film's director, Kaithapram Damodoran Namboothiri, was quoted as saying by the Times of India: "With the shameful details of bribery emerging, I have no option but to look for someone else," . The Bangalore-based Deccan Herald newspaper added that Namboothiri was now looking for another Pakistani cricketer or actor for the film, which starts shooting next month. Asif is one of three players named by the British tabloid News of the World as being involved in alleged "spot-fixing" in the final Test match between England and Pakistan at Lord's last week.
The newspaper said a British-based agent for a number of Pakistan players took £150,000 (Dh850,000) to arrange for deliberate no-balls to be bowled at precise points during the match. The players at the centre of the claims have not been suspended but are likely to miss Thursday's warm-up game for the rest of the tour after being summoned to meet officials in London. * AFP