The Pakistan cricket team were on a mission to repair a tarnished reputation.

From the moment they arrived at Taunton's picturesque County Ground, the entire team were on a PR drive to try to undo the damage caused over the last five days since the News of the World published allegations of spot-fixing involving three members of the team.

While yesterday's encounter was meant to be a warm-up game for Pakistan's one-day international and Twenty20 games against England, it was played out in the white heat of the media spotlight as the tourists took to the field for the first time since the betting storm broke.

A packed press box for a touring side's encounter with Somerset had been unheard of, but such was the interest in this game that an overflow press box had to be hastily arranged. Every word emanating from a Pakistan team member was consumed with a passion, while even the utterings from England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke drew a circle of eager hacks.

From the beginning, it was obvious that the Pakistan management had decreed that the team go out of their way to show no outward signs of the turmoil which must have existed in the camp. Unlike last Sunday at Lord's, when the team failed to take part in any pre-match exercises, the Pakistanis were out in force.

One-day international team captain Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis were keen to put on a show of normality with throw-downs followed by a none-too-energetic game of football.

They signed autographs for a group of Pakistan fans gathered around the entrance to the pavilion while the team manager, Yawar Saeed – a former Somerset all-rounder from the 1950s – spoke of the team's determination to carry on as normal.

As Peter Trego was winning the toss to put Pakistan in to bat, more than 140 miles away in London at the Pakistani High Commission, the three cricketers at the centre of the storm – Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif – were facing their own stern examination to determine their immediate future. The trio were later suspended by the International Cricket Council, pending charges on various offences under the anti-corruption code. The Pakistan High Commissioner was adamant that all three will contest their innocence.

The players may still face questions from Scotland Yard detectives about the goings-on over the first three days of the last Test at Lord's.

Ask anyone at Taunton yesterday what they thought of what had gone on since the revelations last Sunday and they fall into two schools of thought. The hawks believe that there is no smoke without fire, while the doves are of the opinion that the three remain innocent until proven guilty.

The third over, which was at the centre of the Test match scandal, passed without incident, but the following over the Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar delivered a wide – but there was not a no ball in sight until the 41st over – and then it was for a beamer.

On a brighter note, a lunchtime collection among the bumper crowd raised £2,350, with Somerset County Cricket Club rounding the figure up to £5,000 to help flooding victims in Pakistan.

And as Pakistan squeaked to an eight-run victory, their players were left to reflect on a job well done. It remains to be seen if their team's reputation recovers – only time will tell.