Players will not welcome spot-fixing trio back in team: Tanvir

Published September 1, 2015
“Anyone who has defamed Pakistan in such a manner cannot be allowed to walk back as if this was a simple thing,” Tanvir Ahmed said. — AP/file
“Anyone who has defamed Pakistan in such a manner cannot be allowed to walk back as if this was a simple thing,” Tanvir Ahmed said. — AP/file

Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif may have been cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to resume their careers from September 2, but former teammate Tanvir Ahmed said there are at least four to five players in the Pakistan team who do not want the trio back in the national setup.

The out-of-favour fast bowler Tanvir, who emerged onto the scene after Amir and Asif were suspended for spot-fixing in 2010, said, “under no circumstances should these three players be allowed to resume their careers.”

“Anyone who has defamed Pakistan in such a manner cannot be allowed to walk back as if this was a simple thing,” Tanvir told Pakpassion in an interview.

“If we are not strict with these players then someone else will also do it thinking that they will also get away with it. To reiterate, someone who had no regard for his country and indulged in spot-fixing without a second thought should not be allowed near a cricket field, let alone wear the colours of the country,” the 36-year-old, who last played for Pakistan in 2013, added.

Tanvir revealed that several teammates in the current side were unwilling to play alongside Asif, Amir and Butt, should the trio be considered for national selection in the future.

“There are four or five Pakistan players who have clearly expressed their refusal to play alongside these three. If that is the case in the national team, then why does anyone think that the domestic players will simply welcome them with open arms?”

“We should not forget that it is the domestic level which forms the basis for the national team so the opinion of domestic players must be taken into account when deciding on allowing these three players back into the fold.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board, last week, ruled out an early return to international cricket for the disgraced trio ahead of the imminent expiry of their spot-fixing bans.

The players are eligible to return to the sport on September 2 after serving five-year bans but according to a board's new programme the three trio must go through extensive rehab before they can return to international cricket.

“No time frame can be given by the selection committee at this point in time with regards to their future involvement in cricket at any level until and unless proper policy guidelines are issued by PCB,” chief selector Haroon Rasheed told AFP.

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