Pakistan to apply for Amir's clearance next week

ABU DHABI: Pakistan's cricket chief on Tuesday said that an appeal will be lodged with the anti-corruption unit to clear the way for seamer Mohammad Amir to play domestic matches before his five-year ban expires.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday revised its anti-corruption code which means that banned players can feature in home matches a few months prior to the end of their ban, specifically benefitting Amir.

The ICC said it will be up to the home board, the Anti-Corruption Security (ACSU) chairman Ronnie Flanagan and ICC Board to take the final call.

Amir's ban expires in August 2015.

The 22-year-old bowler was banned alongwith then captain Salman Butt and pace partner Mohammad Asif for accepting money in return for deliberate no-balls during the Lord's Test against England in 2010.

The ICC's anti-corruption tribunal banned Aamer for five years, Butt for ten years with five suspended and Asif for seven years with two suspended.

The trio were also jailed in Britain.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan said his board was in the process of filing an appeal.

“The ball is in our court now,” Khan said on the sidelines of the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand.

“As soon as the code was revised and passed we started to prepare a paper and in the next few days we will send it to the ACSU chairman and he will decide,” said Khan.

Khan said the PCB was satisfied with Amir's rehabilitation, made mandatory for the banned players by the ICC tribunal.

“We are satisfied that Amir has done the rehab and from the beginnig he was co-operative and the case was ready for us and we hope that in the next ICC meeting on January 26 we will have a final decision,” said Khan, a former diplomat.

“The way is open for Amir's return.” Before the ban, Amir was playing for leading Pakistani team National Bank, but his employers terminated his contract after he was banned.

Khan said Butt and Asif have not done enough rehab to warrant the same relaxation.

“The other two players have not shown the remorse or they have not helped others to avoid this pitfall, Amir has done that so his case is different from Butt and Asif and we have told the other two that until their rehab is not completed they will not get that relaxation,” said Khan.

Butt and Asif last week objected to the help offered to Amir and had claimed that they had finished their rehab.

Brazil to host 2027 Women’s World Cup as Gaza overshadows FIFA meeting

PM felicitates hockey team, orders policy formulation to employ athletes

Pakistan set up volleyball final with Turkmenistan

On DawnNews

دبئی پراپرٹی لیکس میں سابق فوجی افسران کی جائیدادیں بھی شامل

دبئی لیکس: ریت پر محلات بنانے والی پاکستانی شخصیات

کون سے ممالک اسرائیل کو ہتھیار فراہم کرتے ہیں؟

Dawn News English

Govt Asked To Expand Scope Of Development

“Why Does Azad Kashmir Get Cheap Electricity?”

Courtside Chats: How Did israel Respond To South Africa’s Plea At ICJ?

Falling Output Hurting Mango Exports

What Does Pakistan’s Constitution Say About Deputy Prime Minister?

Textiles’ Export Growth Slows In April

Market Wrap Up: KSE-100 Closes At 75,325.88

Comments (19) Closed

Nov 11, 2014 04:41pm

Without any prejudice, there should be uniformity in application of law. No discrimination whatsoever.

Recommend 0

Wamiq Ansari

Nov 11, 2014 05:25pm

If Aamer was not caught by the British media, he would have been still doing it and we probably would have miserably lost the series against Australia. Yes, he has served his sentence but that does not mean that he should be given a chance to come back in the national team. He along with others completely destroyed the soft image our country is desperatly trying to build. He should always be close to Cricket but only as an example for other youngsters. Young cricketer should look at his short career and learn not to make any mistakes that will end there career just as it did for this convicted fellon.

Recommend 0

Saifuddin Takhtawala

Nov 11, 2014 06:11pm

We do not have any room for such cheats in our national team no matter how talented they are. They put our country's pride after their personal gains.

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Nov 11, 2014 06:37pm

How about the other two culprits?

Recommend 0

Nov 11, 2014 06:45pm

Only on Pakistan do we allow traitors to come back. Take everything away from all three and send them back to the state they were in. 0 tolerance for traitors

Recommend 0

Harmony

Nov 11, 2014 06:51pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad - How about it?

Recommend 0

Nov 11, 2014 07:04pm

No one is perfect, people make mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance.

Recommend 0

Rizwan

Nov 11, 2014 07:35pm

Come on people forgive this lad Yes he has made a big mistake yes he let us and whole nation down but think about other corrupts such as Zardari and Nawaz shariff brothers who are still running the country despite being corrupts but Aamir admitted his crime and was punished and was very sorry for what he did lets give him one chance coz everybody in their teens have made silly mistakes think about you self when you were in your teens.

Recommend 0

Harmony

Nov 11, 2014 07:52pm

@Wamiq Ansari - I bet your elders never forgave you when you were naughty. I wonder why we seek 'forgiveness' from the Almighty if it shouldn't be given in your book.

Recommend 0

K.Chishti

Nov 11, 2014 09:25pm

I think for better future, we need to ban people of life. Zero tolerance for corruption - no matter where it is. This is how stong nations are born. We rank 134th on global corruption index, I am not surpised with tolerance for hienous crime like this. This is why there is so much wrong with society, where small corruption is tolerated and the nation is getting lost. I can tell you, even if Amir is thousand times better even than I would not bring him back. Forgiveness for some cricketer on lighter terms (super heros of the times), after Justice Q. investigation few years back lead to Amir and countless other undocumented cases - remember Sydney test anyone? These shady guys are better off outside. When people say, he already has servered a sentence and he was young. Please consider the future of other new young cricketer who will be influnced by posterchild of corruption. Shame on PCB! Thoughly dissoppointed, if this game continues.

Recommend 0

nisar ahmed

Nov 11, 2014 09:30pm

All these three should not be allowed to play again for Pakistan. Pakistan team is doing great even without them. They will bring further bad name for Pakistan. If Aamir come back in the team to play again, imagine when he will visit Australia, south Africa, New zealand etc when he will take wicket, bad remarks will be passed by the commentators or spectators about these culprits. Please please leave them all and try new talent we will not die even if we loose some matches rather than to allow them to give them opportunity to earn more through corruption.

Recommend 0

Mustafa

Nov 11, 2014 09:44pm

I have a comment for all those who are saying that Aamir should not be back in our team. Shane Wanre, Mark Waugh, Herschelle Gibbs and many others were found to have cordial relations with bookies. I don't remember they were even punished. Shane was banned for a couple of years for using a banned enhancing substance, not for passing on critical information to bookies. On the other hand, three of our players are found guilty, all went to jail, stayed away from cricket (their bread and butter) for 5 years. Among them Aamir is remorseful, acknowledged his guilt, and completed his rehab too. I think Aamir should be brought back. He should serve his country as a cricketer and he surely will be a good lesson for youngsters to come.

Recommend 0

Saifuddin Takhtawala

Nov 11, 2014 11:21pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Amir, Asif, Salman, Kanaria were adamant even after proved guilty beyond doubts. They kept cutting corners and should be banned for life in for playing in our national team even if ICC left it's ban.

Recommend 0

Abdul Majeed

Nov 12, 2014 12:12am

Disgraced players and tainted politicians are twins . They should be left to rot. By the way what is the logic of amir,s inclusion .

Recommend 0

Harmony

Nov 12, 2014 12:31am

@Saifuddin Takhtawala - Mohammad Amir accepted his guilt at his trial - the only one!

Recommend 0

Rashid

Nov 12, 2014 04:40am

@JK ... there is a difference between making a mistake and being corrupt... they were aware that the money was offered for something illegal that would harm their country, they not only took the money but shamelessly denied it for weeks.. when you are representing your country at the highest level like these crooks were, nothing short of perfect is expected. there is a difference between a street cop taking bribes (not that I recommend that) and a representative of the country being corrupt.

Recommend 0

Hussain

Nov 12, 2014 06:58am

Punishment should be proportionate to the crime/mistake. ICC punishment of 5 year ban for Aamir was disproportionate to begin with. In any case, after he has served his sentence (5 yr ban and 6 months jail term), he should be given a second chance. Agree that what he did was a serious crime but a life ban, as recommended by a few commentators here, is just too harsh, disproportionate and plain unjust in this case.

Recommend 0

sheraz

Nov 12, 2014 09:55am

Some of my friends here are very harsh in their comments and does not believe in second chances.... Just for their information that NS is running this country for the third time although NS is much much notorious than the trio in plundering the wealth of the country

Recommend 0

ANEES

Nov 12, 2014 11:40pm

I think his sentence (Aamir) was way to harsh. Footballers who drink and drive and rape women in the UK seems to get far less sentences. One footballer killed 2 kids travelling at 100 mph all he got was 7 years in Jail. Not only that when he comes out he already been offered a new contract. I feel sorry for Aamir but he has alot to do going forward to please the Pakistani people. He owes them !!

Recommend 0

Read more