Historic conviction: Butt, Asif guilty

London: Banned Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif have been found guilty of two offences in the spot-fixing case and a jail sentence of up to seven years is looming large over both the players.

In the most significant day of the 20-day trial, the jury for the spot-fixing case gave its verdict after nearly 17 hours of deliberation at the Southwark Crown Court.

Both Butt and Asif were found guilty on two counts - by a majority on conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and by unanimous verdict on conspiracy to cheat.

Though Asif was found guilty by unanimous verdict on conspiracy to cheat earlier in the day, the ruling on the second charge - of accepting corrupt payments - labelled against him was the latest development in the ongoing trial.

Now both the banned Pakistan players are facing a possible jail term of seven years. Decision on their conviction will be taken later this week.

Butt and Asif stood impassively in the dock as the verdicts were delivered.

The pair became the first sportsmen to be convicted of on-field corruption in UK court since the 1960s.

The jurors hearing the trial took five days to reach their verdict on all charges. They resumed their deliberations on Tuesday morning after presiding judge Justice Cooke told them he would accept a 10-2 majority.

Butt, 27, and Asif, 28, plotted to bowl deliberate no-balls during the Lord