LAHORE: Former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) retired Lt Gen Tauqir Zia has questioned the possible return of tainted fast bowler Mohammad Amir to international cricket.

Speaking to reporters at a book-launching ceremony here on Wednesday, Tauqir said, “Amir should not be allowed to return to international cricket.”

He added that Amir’s return might create problems for his team-mates as it would not be easy for them to adjust with the “criminal”.

There are reports that the ICC in its ongoing meetings in the UAE is most likely to allow Amir to play domestic cricket forthwith and then international cricket from September this year after completing five-year ban imposed on him in a spot-fixing case erupted in England in 2010.

He claimed that the tainted fast bowler tried to meet him during a function but he refused to do so.

“I observed during the function that Amir did not learn a lesson from the ban,” he said.

Tauqir alleged that PCB and ICC were showing favourable attitude towards Amir but not towards other banned Pakistan players like Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif.

He said other cricketers like Salim Malik and Ata-ur-Rehman, who had been punished in the past for the same crime, should also be allowed to play if Amir is allowed to return to international cricket.

Meanwhile, three former cricketers Intikhab Alam, Abdul Qadir and Inzamam-ul-Haq also spoke on the occasion.

Intikhab, who is currently working as director domestic cricket and was the manager of the Pakistan team which won the World Cup in 1992, said the nation should support the Pakistan team.

He said Imran Khan’s captaincy was a major factor which kept the team united and helped Pakistan win the Cup.

Intikhab added that on the day of the final Imran wore a shirt carrying a picture of a tiger and asked his players to play like that.

Qadir said intentions of the players should be fair and clear otherwise they would not get desired results.

He added that intention of the Pakistan team in 1992 was to win the World Cup but now players play for money.

Qadir said great cricketers like Hanif Mohammad and late Fazal Mahmood were not duly honoured by the PCB which was major injustice.

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq also backed the team, claiming it had talent but it should show mental strength as it would be key to success in the World Cup.

“Imran remained hopeful despite losing matches in 1992, so I advise my players not to lose hearts even if they lose a match,” he said.

Published in Dawn January 29th, 2015

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