HONG KONG, Sept 15 Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has urged leniency for suspended cricketer Mohammad Aamir, who is fighting allegations of match-fixing, saying the 18-year-old may have acted under the influence of older players.

Aamir, fellow bowler Mohammad Asif and Test captain Salman Butt are challenging corruption charges pressed by the International Cricket Council after a news report showed an agent for the trio accepting money for organising the deliberate bowling of no-balls at prearranged times during a Test against England at Lord's last month, in order to fix bets.

Asked about the scandal on the sidelines of an investor conference in Hong Kong on Wednesday, Musharraf condemned cheating but urged leniency for Amir, citing his youth, his talent and poor family background.

“This boy, I would say, is hardly a man at 18, who came under the influence of senior players, needs to be seen compassionately for the sake of his family and for the sake of cricket at large. It's a very sad incident,” Musharraf told reporters.

“Instead of destroying a person, rehabilitation of the person is required. We need to do everything to rehabilitate him and set an example for others.”—AP