The England team have demanded a "full and unreserved apology" from the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Ijaz Butt, and threatened legal action after he alleged they were involved in fixing the third one-day international at The Oval.
The controversy arose when Butt said on television in Pakistan: "There is loud and clear talk in bookie circles that some English players have taken enormous amounts of money to lose the match [the third ODI]. No wonder there was such a collapse."
The fourth and fifth matches of the series did go ahead as planned despite England considering a pull out.
But the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Professional Cricketers Association released a statement this morning which 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, played at The Brit Insurance Oval on September 17th 2010."
"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."