England and Pakistan pair square up before play

A CONFRONTATION between England cricketer Jonathan Trott and Pakistan opponent Wahab Riaz before yesterday's NatWest Series match at Lord's was described as "regrettable" but a "closed matter" by England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier.

The England batsman and Pakistan's perennial 12th man squared up in the nursery end nets shortly before the match, which the tourists won by 38 runs to level the series at 2-2.

Collier conceded the tensions of the past 24 hours - since Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt issued claims that England players received "enormous sums of money" to deliberately lose at the Brit Oval last week - doubtless contributed to the tension both players were feeling.

"There was an altercation," he confirmed. "It was fairly minor in nature. It was regrettable, but it happened."

Collier was grateful to match referee Jeff Crowe, a New Zealander, for ensuring the situation did not get out of hand once it was brought to his attention.

"We are very fortunate we have the experience of a neutral man in Jeff Crowe here, who dealt with it immediately," added Collier. "It is a closed matter.

"I think feelings have been high in the last 24 hours. We don't hide behind that, though. We admit feelings were strong, so that is bound to spill over."

The incident is sure to be portrayed as symptomatic of the inevitable deterioration in relations between England and Pakistan in an ODI series dogged by spot-fixing controversy.

The saga reached crisis point yet again yesterday thanks to Butt's remarks. England have strenuously refuted accusations they see as defamatory and also made mention in a statement of the "legal options" which may be available to them.