LONDON (AFP) No-one can play Pakistan at home right now and as far as the likes of former England captain Ian Botham are concerned no-one should be playing them at all because of the 'spot-fixing allegations facing the side. But money and politics - two of the oldest reasons for doing anything - mean Pakistans travelling show is set to continue for some time yet. A tour of England that started with a neutral series against Australia ended being mired in corruption controversy, with potentially hugely damaging consequences for cricket as a whole. A report in Britains News of the World tabloid led to Pakistans Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif being suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and questioned by British police over an alleged plot to bowl deliberate no-balls during last months Test at Lords. England, much praised for helping Pakistan at a time when international cricket had come to a standstill in the Asian nation following last years armed attack on Sri Lankas team bus in Lahore, then found themselves in the firing line. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt accused England of losing last weeks third one-day international at The Oval on purpose. There is loud and clear talk in bookies circles that some English players were paid, he said, prompting threats of legal action by English officials. At that point any hopes that England, who admittedly were looking to cash in on Pakistans enthusiastic British-based support, would invite Butts men again next season effectively disappeared. As relations between administrators soured, England batsman Jonathan Trott and Pakistan seamer Wahab Riaz were involved in a pre-match altercation ahead of Mondays fourth one-day international at Lords. That England then won Wednesdays fifth one-dayer at the Rose Bowl by 121 runs to complete series wins in all formats against Pakistan this season was almost overlooked in the acrimonious atmosphere. Botham, asked if Pakistan should be banned, said: In my opinion, yes. We keep sweeping things under the carpet enough is enough. But Pakistan are set to break new ground by staging Tests in Dubai and Abu Dhabi against South Africa in November. Pulling out would cost Cricket South Africa money, both in terms of being sued by sponsors and television companies, as may well have happened to England had they cut short their series with Pakistan, not to mention a possible fine by the ICC for failing to fulfil a fixture under the Future Tours Programme. Pakistan are then due to tour New Zealand in late December for an 11-match tour that runs until early February. You cant just do that (change opponents) the way the Future Tours Programme is structured, New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan told the New Zealand Herald on Wednesday. Its not a process where you can say 'wed rather have someone else, he added. It doesnt work that way. Of course, were the ICC to suspend Pakistan that would be a different story. But the ICC is only as powerful as its individual members allow it and banning Pakistan would reduce the influence of the dominant 'Asian bloc in the affairs of the global governing body. There is also the broader point for a sport that, despite everything, still prides itself on fair play, of whether it would be right to suspend an entire nation, one of the most talented in world cricket, because of what may be the actions of a few players. Then theres the question of what would happen if the ICC, for whom this issue is a severe test of its anti-corruption unit, were to ban Pakistan only for credible fixing allegations to surface against players from elsewhere. England captain Andrew Strauss, one of the few players who have emerged with their reputations enhanced as a result of the controversy, said the ICC could not afford to take their eye off the ball. The ICC must leave no stone unturned, he warned after Englands Rose Bowl victory. Its so important the ICC take a very strong lead from now on and dont take a breather now this series finished.