Amir set for return to cricket

Banned Pakistani bowler Mohammed Amir, could be playing competitive cricket as soon as next month, if the ICC approves his reintegration following the introduction of a revised anti-corruption code. The ICC interviewed Mohammed Amir on Friday about his banned years, in order to find if there was any difference in the player.

In November, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had written to the ICC to review the conditions of Amir’s spot fixing ban and grant immediate relief to the player so that he could return to domestic cricket before September 2015, that is when his five-year ban ends. According to the new anti-corruption code, banned players could be allowed to return to domestic cricket before the end of their penalty if they meet certain criteria.

With the domestic season in Pakistan set to finish soon and start again in October, Amir’s only chance to play in competitive cricket can be a possible stint in the Super Eight T20 Cup in Pakistan after the World Cup.

Spokesman from the PCB has said, “It is most likely that Amir will get an (immediate) reprieve to play domestic cricket.”

The hopes of his return to competitive return cricket has encouraged his representatives to look for possible contracts in English County Season which begins in April.

The reintegration of Amir to competitive cricket would depend on few factors though. One of it would be based on a conclusion of positive behaviour since the spot-fixing scandal. In the last four years, Amir has completed an Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) education program with PCB, showed a high degree of remorse, and disclosed relevant information to the PCB as well as the anti-corruption units.

22 year old Mohammed Amir had been handed a 5 year ban along with teammates Mohammed Asif and Salman Butt for indulging in Spot Fixing. Both Mohammed Amir and Mohammed Asif had bowled deliberate no-balls in Lord’s Test in 2010.

Of the three players who were accused, Mohammed Amir was the one who had drawn the most sympathy and considered to have naively entered a way of crime under pressure from seniors without having fully realized the consequences of his act.

The young bowler already holds the record of being the youngest player to 50 test wickets.