Zaka wants Aamir back in action, but only after ICC-nod
KARACHI: The doors of international cricket are virtually shut on disgraced Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif but Mohammad Aamir can still hope for an international return after fulfilling the ban imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal.
Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf told reporters the other day that he would love to see Mohammad Aamir in action if the ICC permits him to play.
As Pakistan and England are going to face off with each other in the deserts of United Arab Emirates, the bitter memories of their previous bilateral series in England re-emerges in the minds of not only fans but also the players.
Three Pakistani cricketers were found involved in the scourge of spot-fixing and were banned for different periods.
While Zaka Ashraf showed his desire to see the young Aamir back in action for Pakistan, he said categorically that the left-arm fast bowler will be inducted into the team only after the ICC permission and will first have to undergo a counseling process.
Chaudhry Zaka told reporters at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday, “There is no doubt about his immense talent but it is also a fact that we cannot condone the shame he and the two other players have brought to Pakistan. We will never support any player who indulges in such criminal and unethical activities”.
Reporters were over-enthusiastic over future of the three tainted cricketers especially Mohammad Aamir and kept asking the PCB chief about his line of action if the left-arm pacer is released from jail in the United Kingdom this month or the next. Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf looked calm and cool saying, “I don`t know the exact dates but whenever he is released we have to see what the provisions of the ICC ban are on him. Whether he can play at any level. But I would like to see him undergo intensive counseling”.
Mohammad Aamir will turn 20 in April 2012 and is expected to complete his sentence next month as news have emerged that the jail authorities would consider his good conduct at the jail premises to cut his sentence to half. The original sentence for Mohammad Aamir was six months announced by the Southwark Crown Court in London last October.
The ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal had imposed a 5-year ban on Mohammad Aamir in February last and if the ICC decides against soothing its ban on the young pacer then he would still have time up his sleeves to make an international return for Pakistan at the age of 24 or 25 years.
It is important to mention here that the Southwark Crown Court had imprisoned former Test captain Salman Butt for 30 months, fast bowler Mohammad Asif for 12 months, and Mohammad Aamir for six months besides sending their agent Mazhar Majeed into prison for 32 months.
The ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal had imposed 10-year ban on Salman Butt with five years of suspension from all sorts of cricket, 7-year ban on Mohammad Asif with two years suspension from cricket activities, and 5-year ban on Mohammad Aamir.
Mohammad Aamir stole the limelight in international cricket at a very tender age and grabbed 51 wickets from just 14 Test matches and propelled Pakistan to their first victory against Australia in 15 years at Leeds in 2010.
PCB refutes news of running after BCCI for Pak-India series
Chairman PCB Zaka Ashraf also made it absolutely clear that the Pakistan Cricket Board wanted bilateral series against India to go on but negated all the rumours about running after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in this regard.
“We are an independent body and there is no question of us running after the Indian board to resume bilateral cricket series. I have made efforts to convince the Indian board to resume bilateral ties because people of both countries and even the critics and sponsors want to see Indo-Pak matches. I know that the day we resume ties and play a series with India, it will have a big impact on Pakistan cricket because for the Pakistani people there is nothing bigger than matches with India,” Zaka Ashraf said at the Karachi Press Club.
It is merit mentioning here that Pakistan-India cricket ties are at standstill since deadly 2008 Mumbai terrorists’ attack.
Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf said, “Yes since I took over as Chairman we took the initiative to write to them and other Boards to support us in resuming international cricket activities in Pakistan. But it is not right to say the Indians have rejected our friendly overtures.”
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