ALTHOUGH Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been justly found guilty of spot - fixing, the punishment meted out to them contravenes the basic principle of justice. No one can be punished twice for the same offence.

As they have already been banned from all types of cricket by the International Cricket Council for five to 10 years, they should not have been tried and punished by a London court.

They should appeal against the judgment of the London court and I am sure the lower court judgment will be overturned by the appellate court on this point.

I have no sympathy for Butt and Asif but my heart aches for Amir.

He is just a kid and lacks maturity and could not recognise foes in the garb of friends that Butt and Asif proved to be.

The Pakistan Cricket Board should do all in its power to get the five-year ban condoned by the ICC. Even if an appeal is rejected by the ICC, a six-month jail term is not much and he can return to cricket. Whereas the five-year ban by the ICC is too hard on him.

If needed, diplomatic channels and the support of other countries’ cricket boards should be explored, as Amir has already expressed deep remorse and repentance. He must be saved.

S. NAQI HASAN Lahore