Clarke confirms plans to review Amir's ban

Agencies Published July 2, 2013

International Cricket Council (ICC) committee chairman Giles Clarke, also chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), confirmed the formation of a team to review the conditions of Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir's ban.

The development comes after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) interim chairman Najam Sethi discussed reducing Amir's ban at the annual meeting of the ICC in London last week.

Clarke said the PCB had pointed out that Amir had collaborated with an ICC anti-corruption unit, admitted his guilt and apologised to fans and to Pakistan and the world community.

“In the light of Amir's cooperation and his public submission of guilt and his undergoing a rehabilitation programme, I stated that I would be prepared with a small group, including Cricket Australia chairman and the representative of Singapore cricket association, to look into the matter,” Clarke told AFP by phone.

Any relaxation, if approved by the ICC board, would allow Amir to use PCB facilities such as cricket grounds and gyms.

Clarke, who headed a special group to help Pakistan bring international cricket from 2008-2011, stressed the importance of banned players admitting their guilt and apologising.

“The two important things for these cricketers, who are either found guilty or implicated, is to come clean by recognising their guilt and apologise and assist the authorities in cleaning up the mess,” he said.

“They owe the Pakistan fans that obligation. I am pleased that Salman Butt has now apologised publicly and recognised and admitted his guilt. That is the first step.”

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Shahid

Jul 02, 2013 05:47pm

Some relaxations to Amir may be accepted but Salman Butt's apologies are not acceptable to fans in Pakistan nor anywhere else. Salman is only trying to deceive everyone once again, he is a cheat and will never change, he is the bad fish in the pond.

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Zeeshan

Jul 02, 2013 06:20pm

Pakistan is gifted with so much talent. There is no need to bring back the guilty players. PCB should take serious steps to encourage new talents all over the country and get them groom to compete at the international level.

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zem

Jul 02, 2013 06:28pm

I just to pray for him(Amir),but if u back don't let any more pak cric fan down.don;'t forget that u always must have to carry more responsibility........especially ETHICS,and finally if Amir back hats off to mr Sethi and I request to sethi same mentality(talent basis) implement for selection process.

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Burki

Jul 02, 2013 06:35pm

excellent news and I hope this would pave way for an earlier return of Amir to internaitonal cricket. But there should not be any respite for Salman. Amir admitted to his guilt because he sincerely wanted to come clean about what he had done but this Salman kept denying any wrong doing till he realized that every other door was now closed on him. Only then he admitted publicly and apologized, not out of guilty conscious but yet another scheme to fool the people to try to make his way back into internaitonal cricket.

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Khalid

Jul 02, 2013 07:22pm

I really don't understand the reason?. Why would you review the reinstatement of a convicted criminal and give him the same conditions under which he made the whole nation hang their heads in shame?. Why?

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JUNAID

Jul 02, 2013 07:39pm

Clarke said very rightly that public apology is the first step. In case of Amir, I have to say he showed much more guts then other two senior players by admiting his mistake quickly and promise to rectify. Salman Butt and Asif should not be allowed in any international event, after apology so late in the case. These two resisted till the end and it shows their bad intent, and adiction to fix the game.

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Dilawer

Jul 02, 2013 08:27pm

This is a welcome News. Hope Amir and likes have learned a lesson. He must prepare himself for a very hard work since it will not be easy to get back in the same rhythm after this hiatus. One question though, what is is surety that he will not be tempted again and relapse into the old disease?

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ammar

Jul 02, 2013 08:50pm

This poor kid deserves a second chance - simply because he immediately admitted his fault and was prepared to deal with the consequences -- he has suffered enough. He made us proud by not playing games and admitting right away. Salman Butt- is the real culprit here. He should be put in jail again for finally admitting his mistake after two years !!

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Pakistani

Jul 03, 2013 11:10am

didnt get this "would allow Amir to use PCB facilities such as cricket grounds and gyms". and wat abt international cricket?

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SRK

Jul 03, 2013 03:38pm

In my view, right from the start, Salman butt was the real culprit. He lured and may be pressurized Aamir into this thing. Salman kept denying any wrong doing on his part. I would also like to condemn some Pakistani channels who kept using Salman as an expert in some of their programs. He was a player with limited cricketing abilities. He was appointed captain just for his good spoken English Skills. With is wrong doing, he took away the best talent (Aamir), the World has seen in the recent past... If possible, ban on Aamir should be relaxed but Salman should not be allowed to be a part of Pakistani team for ever... He fooled the whole world, whole nation for a long period of time and kept targeting other players in the team that they did not co operate with him in his wrong doings...

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M.Israr Qureshi

Jul 03, 2013 07:49pm

@Zeeshan: We are human & humans make mistakes like Amir a kid of 18 years he deserved second chance as he accepted his mistake sent appolgies right away its very hard reaction from ICC.dissapointed ! > we have to support him t get another chance to cum clean and play for country thanks.

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