Asif, Butt told not to tweet or blog

That's what jurors are told by the judge as spot fixing trial of accused Salman Butt and Mohd Asif begin

Asif, Butt told not to tweet or blog

That's what jurors are told by the judge as spot fixing trial of accused Salman Butt and Mohd Asif begin

Hot case: Mohammad Asif leaves Southwark Crown Court in London
yesterday. Pic/AFP

Taking turns to read out their oaths, the jurors were then sworn in, in a case which judge Jeremy Cooke said could last up to five weeks. Cooke told the jury not to talk to anyone about the trial. "You will almost certainly have read things in the newspapers," the judge said. "Dismiss all that.

Focus on the evidence you hear in this court and nothing else." Jurors were asked whether they or their families worked in the gambling industry or earned money from professional cricket or have ever been employed in journalism. Jurors were also told "do not go on the internet" to look up information relating to the case, and "no tweeting, no blogging to anyone else about it".

Butt and Asif were charged with spot fixing during a match against England last year in allegations which rocked the world of cricket.

Former captain Butt (26) and fast bowler Asif (28) appeared at Southwark Crown Court charged with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, and with conspiracy to cheat at gambling.

The charges relate to allegations of the deliberate bowling of no-balls during England's fourth Test against Pakistan at Lord's cricket ground in London in August 2010. Butt and Asif deny the charges. The offences carry maximum sentences of seven years and two years in prison respectively.

Butt and Asif were asked if they objected to any of the jurors selected, to which they said they did not.

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