CRICKET NEWS:THREE PAKISTANI players embroiled in allegations of match-fixing looked set to miss their team's match against Somerset tomorrow after questioning by officials from their country was put back 24 hours.

Test captain Salman Butt and seam bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were due to have talks in London tomorrow with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and the country’s high commissioner.

However, it emerged last night that the meeting has been postponed until tomorrow, when the friendly match with Somerset takes place.

Meanwhile three people have been arrested by British Customs officials in connection with betting allegations against Pakistan players.

Two men and a woman, all from London, were questioned on Sunday as part of an investigation into money laundering before being released on bail, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said in a statement.

“Three individuals were arrested on Sunday as part of an ongoing investigation into money laundering.

“This includes two 35-year-olds – a male and a female – from the Croydon area, and a 49-year-old male from the Wembley area. These individuals were arrested, questioned and have been bailed pending further investigation.”

A spokeswoman refused to confirm whether the arrests were linked to the alleged betting scam reported by the News of the World.

Following the newspaper report, Mazhar Majeed, 35, a cricket agent who also owns Croydon Athletic Football Club, was arrested and later released on police bail.

Butt, Aamer, Asif and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal were questioned by police over the allegations at their London hotel.

Haroon Lorgat, of ruling body the International Cricket Council (ICC), has said he hopes there will be “some sort of a conclusion” to the investigation by the weekend.

The ICC’s anti-corruption and security unit is also investigating the claims and Mr Lorgat has said “prompt and decisive action” would be taken against anyone who sought to harm the game’s integrity.

Cricketers found guilty of cheating could be thrown out of the sport but Mr Lorgat has said “a couple of individuals that might have got caught up in corrupt practices” should not bring the entire game to a standstill.

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin confirmed yesterday they had both been approached by an Indian bookmaker in the past 16 months. Both said they reported the incidents to team management and insisted they were never asked to alter the result of a match.