A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police in London confirmed it was aware that the trio were leaving Britain and said the players had promised “through their solicitor to return to assist the Metropolitan Police Service inquiry in due course.” —AP Photo

LONDON: The three Pakistani cricketers accused of spot-fixing during the recent series against England will return home involved on Friday.

“The Metropolitan Police has been notified that Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt will return to Pakistan later this morning,” said a statement from Addleshaw Goddard, the London legal firm representing the players.

Police had questioned Test team captain Butt and bowlers Amir and Asif over claims in the News of The World newspaper that they took money to deliberately bowl no-balls in a Test match against England at Lord’s last month.

The players, who have denied wrongdoing, were released without charge after being quizzed at a London police station on September 3.

Despite their return to Pakistan, the lawyers’ statement said the cricketers “remain available to co-operate fully with the police investigation and have each given undertakings to return to the UK if required to do so.”

”The players are looking forward to being reunited with their families,” it said.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police in London confirmed it was aware that the trio were leaving Britain and said the players had promised “through their solicitor to return to assist the Metropolitan Police Service inquiry in due course.”

Meanwhile, a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt also confirmed their return.

"Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir are now returning to Pakistan. They have not been charged by the Police with any offence. They have fully co-operated with the police in their inquiries and maintain that they are innocent of any alleged wrong doing. They have agreed with the police to return to England if the police request them to do so to assist them in their inquiries.”