Spot-fixing controversy | Jury returns for more deliberation

The jury deciding on the alleged spot-fixing trial at Southwark Crown Court involving Pakistan players Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were retired by the judge for a second day on Friday morning as they continue their deliberations.

On the 18th morning of the trial in central London, Justice Cooke welcomed the 12-member jury to court at 10.00am and immediately released them back to the jury room. On Thursday, the jury had started their deliberations at about midday.

Justice Cooke told them on Thursday: "The only satisfactory verdict in a criminal trial is a unanimous verdict," the judge said. "I do not want to hear anything about majority decisions at the moment." The judge may consider a majority verdict, though, should there not be a decision after several days.

"There is no set time for a verdict," he had added. "You can take as short a time or as long a time as you need within reason. There is no pressure on you. If you do not reach a decision today, I shall send you home and you can come back tomorrow."

The judge had earlier completed his summing-up on what was the 17th day in the trial and he offered some guidance to the 12-person jury who will decide the fate of the two players.

Former captain Butt and pace bowler Asif face charges of conspiracy to cheat, and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, following the Lord's Test in August last year when they allegedly conspired with agent Mazhar Majeed and teenage fast bowler Mohammad Amir and other people unknown to bowl pre-planned no-balls. Butt and Asif deny the charges.