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KARACHI: Pakistan's banned pace bowler Mohammad Amir has backed former India captain Rahul Dravid's call to make match fixing a criminal offence.
Amir, who was jailed in England for corruption and is also serving a five-year ban for spot fixing during a test at Lord's in 2010, urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to review and change its current system of anti-corruption enforcement and laws.
“Fixing of cricket matches must be made an criminal offence where the punishment should be hard jail,” Amir, who was released after three months of his six-month prison sentence in England, told the Geo Super sports channel on Thursday.
“Only then will players be willing to report any approach or offer or unusual activity to the ICC anti-corruption and security unit officers or their management without fear.”
Earlier this week Dravid, who has been named as a witness in a major spot-fixing scandal that tainted this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 competition, said merely educating players of the perils of match-fixing was not enough.
“I have been through a lot at a young age and I have learnt a lot. I made costly mistakes. But in order to prevent others from being lured into corruption tougher laws are required by the ICC,” said the 21-year-old, who was banned in 2011 by an ICC anti-corruption tribunal with team mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif.
“Main thing is that the ICC needs to keep track of all phone calls made by players and officials during a tour or tournament even if they need help of local police to make this legally possible.”
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On DawnNews
Comments (31) Closed
Aug 09, 2013 01:20pm
I feel sorry for Amir. But I can see that his mind his working in the right direction. Amir is capitalizing on every opportunity that comes his way to make a point. He is demonstrating a very positive mind set and therefore everybody is in favor of his quick return to the cricket. good luck!
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Aug 09, 2013 03:43pm
To late the Heros.
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Aug 09, 2013 03:48pm
To late the "Heroes. A little slip on the part of Mr. Amir had already caused considerable damage to the prestige and image of the Country which to my mind is an irrperable loss.
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Aug 09, 2013 04:21pm
Pot calling the kettle black?. You represented your country at the highest level of the game and brought nothing but shame to the entire nation. Keep your opinions to yourself. No one is interested in your opinion about how to deal with cheating in the game. You are a dishonest person and your opinions are needed. Find something else to do. How many 18 year olds would give an arm and a leg to be in the position you were. Shame that you destroyed the nation's reputation and trust and still feel you can give opinions?.
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Aug 09, 2013 04:40pm
We all make mistakes. Amir made his because he was young and gullible. And paid the price. What is really important that he has learned lessons from his mistakes. As Mike Atherton remarked that Amir could become a prime example of truly successful rehabilitation. He should be given the opportunity to speak at cricket camps to educate and create awareness among aspiring young cricketers about putting their careers and future in jeopardy by succumbing to the temptations offered by match and spot fixers. It is to be fervently hoped that the ICC will take into account Amir's conduct since he was convicted and reduce the period of the ban, so can be enabled to earn a living.The world of cricket will be very enriched by the active participation of this extraordinarily talented champion bowler . And Pakistan's bowling attack will become an even more lethal force by far.
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Aug 09, 2013 04:48pm
We lost watching a fantastic pace bowler in Md Amir due to fixing. Hope not to see any more.
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Aug 09, 2013 05:29pm
When is Amir's ban over and he can return to cricket? Will he be able to play 2015 World Cup?
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Aug 09, 2013 09:15pm
Really? What an irony..Now that you have been punished, you feel like it should be a criminal offence? Even though I may agree with Dravid's thoughts, these words should not be coming from you, Amir. Stay out of media, and focus on what you do best, bowling.
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Aug 09, 2013 09:24pm
Talking good is only good if you walk your talk too , THUS This so called Innocent looking , highly talented as claimed to be , Asset of the Pakistan Cricket as PCB loby makes every body Believe it , YET a Confirmed Convict of the same crime Sport fixing , even served half his term , MUST SAY OPENLY to PCB and every body else that HE DOES NOT WANT HIS BAN to be reduced or lifted and that He wants to complete his ban and then will try like any body else , to reconstruct his tainted career SO EVERY BODY MUST STOP patronizing me ( Ammer ) and let me finish my awarded punishment to the full . ONLY THAN In My Humble opinion , his words would mean any thing to us the fans . making such a statement just to gain press coverage does not hold good for a convict to give lesson to others . SERVE YOUR TERM MAN , than open your mouth if you have to say any thing good .
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Aug 10, 2013 12:04am
Not only players but also folks from media/news too, who get players into ditch for the sake of sizzling stories - nip the evil in the bud.
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Aug 10, 2013 12:37am
Then Amir should be charged again and sent to jail for the crime he committed. He got off easy due to him being young, uneducated and naive.
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Aug 10, 2013 01:58am
Amir is a nice man. Hope he comes back stronger
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Aug 10, 2013 01:59am
News of the world got a slap on the hand for doing such immoral acts. Why did Amir get jail time and the NOTW who spyied on even 911 victims. That shows how connection to the PM of England helps.
Justice was not served, The English press should be ashamed or shame does not exist any more. Amir is a very talented young man. May Allah guide him to better judgement. We all make mistakes but blunders should not be repeated.
Regarding being it a crime i agree, If the fans think Cricket is fixed the game will loose interest.
In my Humble opinion, ICC should remove the ban on Amir after what News of the world liteeraly set Pakistan up.
NOTW carries no weight in my eyes, they were thugs in suits with a pen in their hand out to destroy Pakistan talent.
ICC step up and remove the ban let this young man play.
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Aug 10, 2013 03:24am
To me he is not much better than petty theif. Giving such statements now that he has done it seems quite hollow and convenient.
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Aug 10, 2013 05:16am
chor machaye shor, haha
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Aug 10, 2013 05:38am
Only when bankers who commit even more serious fraud are first subject to similar punishment as is being suggested for cricket match fixing. These bankers 'fix' interest rates that have multi-hundreds-of-billions-of-Euro impact and all they get is a 'cross look'.
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Aug 10, 2013 06:17am
"Wiser after the event" ! After selling his motherland for a couple of pence he now has the audacity to suggest such a punishment.
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Aug 10, 2013 09:40am
Amir is making statements what everyone wants to hear but what is the guaranty he will not lapse into the old habits. I am afraid that his old habits will not die that easily.
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Aug 10, 2013 09:48am
The real question is that what changes were made at PCB training after the corruption scandals by Pakistani players? How long is that training and what is covered in that course/training? I am very certain that Amir will get involved in some corrupt practice very very soon.
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Aug 10, 2013 10:27am
@Ex Pakistani: First he sold the nation by spot fixing and now he is misguiding us again by saying all this useless crap. I say NEVER bring him, Asif and Butt (both Salman and Ijaz varieties) back in the side.
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Aug 10, 2013 03:00pm
@Ex Pakistani:
Why Ex Pakistani? Once born a Pakistani, surely, one always remains a Pakistani. It simply denotes geography of birth coupled to south Asian ethnicity and geo political affiliation. No less no more. You may have changed your nationality but your south Asian ethnicity remains intact as does your or your antecedents' former geo political affiliation. Without the latter you could be an Indian as both Pakistan & India subsume religious beliefs. If you choose to be ex that's fine too.
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Aug 10, 2013 10:35pm
If you give a chance to Srishanth to speak, even he would have the same thing to say. Naughty boys
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Aug 10, 2013 11:15pm
@Hasan-SZ:
emotional fool, he sold his conscious (imaan) and not your motherland
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Aug 10, 2013 11:36pm
I think the punishment should start from Amir himself, he is giving the statement in support because he want to show the world that he is innocent but he should not be allowed by PCB to play again for the country.
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Aug 11, 2013 12:08am
India,s is always having problem with Pakistan it does not matter if is businessor it,s sports otherwise, but India should not forget that most if not all matches fixing is happening in India.People who live in the Glass house should not throw stone at others.India should not that innocent himself.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Aug 11, 2013 11:18am
Amir made his sunset too soon and just like with other cowboys he soon will ride into the sunset. There are two bitter lies in the entire narrative - his age and his innocence. No way that a 19 year old could be this corrupt. Players make money by hard work not by politician level corruption.
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Aug 11, 2013 02:18pm
@Rashid Sultan:
Rashid Sb, many thanks for the reply. I gave up my land of birth (India) and became Pakistani, lived in Pakistan, educated my children there and lived an honest & ethical life, paid taxes all my life. But last ten years I feel very secluded in my own country because of the sect that I believe in. The increased intolerance has forced me to send my family overseas. I hated to become citizen of any country other than Pakistan but at this age I was forced to take such an action.
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Aug 11, 2013 06:04pm
@Ex Pakistani:
For all ex Pakistani you make your choice . Stop complaining for Pakistan,do good for your adopted country . Pakistan is responsibility of Pakistani.
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Aug 12, 2013 12:33am
Ahhh! What a waste of talent! Speaking off wrong place at the wrong time.
Hoping and waiting for his return. Imagine if he was still part of Pakistan team?
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Aug 12, 2013 12:37am
@Ex Pakistani:
I agree.
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Aug 12, 2013 12:45am
@Ex Pakistani:
You can run but you can't hide! Once a Pakistani, always a Pakistani!
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