Pakistan go home but controversy still rages on

Controversy raged on even as Pakistan's cricketers finally flew home yesterday - with England demanding a "full and unreserved apology" from Ijaz Butt over his match-fixing allegations.

The tourists were already on their plane from Heathrow when the England and Wales Cricket Board and Professional Cricketers Association issued a joint statement on behalf of Andrew Strauss' team.

In it, they warned that if Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Butt does not apologise appropriately for alleging England players were involved in fixing last week's third NatWest Series match at the Brit Oval they will take legal action.

There was one other uncomfortable subject for Pakistan to ponder too. Pictures of Shoaib Akhtar handling the ball during England's innings in yesterday's Rose Bowl decider were brought to the attention of the International Cricket Council.

A spokesman for the world governing body declined to comment on the likelihood of any suspicion of ball-tampering, and usual protocol dictates that some mention will have to be made in the match referee's report - which will be received "in due course" - for the ICC to deem any action necessary.

It was fitting, however, that the main business of the day concerned further repercussions from the spot-fixing crises which began almost a month ago.

Three Pakistani players were charged and suspended under the ICC's anti-corruption code over an alleged plot to bowl no-balls, and then last weekend the world governing body announced they were investigating "a certain scoring pattern" during the Oval match.

It was against that backdrop that Butt claimed England had deliberately lost last Friday - in return for "enormous sums of money".

England made their outrage clear in a strongly-worded statement the next day, in which the suggestion of possible legal action was first made.

Yesterday's statement read: "The ECB and the PCA today confirmed that a pre-action letter has been sent on behalf of the England cricket team to Ijaz Butt, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, following his allegations that the England cricket team were involved in fixing the outcome of the third NatWest Series one-day international between England and Pakistan.

"The letter seeks a full and unreserved apology.

"Mr Butt has been advised that if a satisfactory response is not received, legal proceedings will be commenced against him without further notice."

The accusation is one of many, but the only one against England, in a summer of controversy which ended when the hosts wrapped up the NatWest Series 3-2 with a 121-run victory.