Amir could make a return: Zaka Ashraf

E-Paper | March 15, 2026

“As far as his playing again is concerned that is for the selectors to decide because there is no doubt about his immense talent and he is still very young.” -File photo

KARACHI: Teenage Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, serving six-months in jail for spot-fixing elements of a test match, could still have a future in international cricket, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf said.

Amir, 19, was detained for six months in a young offenders institution after he admitted bowling two intentional no-balls in the Lord's test against England in August 2010.

Amir, along with team mates Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt, was banned for a minimum of five years by the International Cricket Council in February last year.

“Whenever he is cleared by the International Cricket Council and serves his punishment, we think he needs intense counselling and then the selectors can decide about him,” Ashraf told a news conference on Tuesday.

“As far as his playing again is concerned that is for the selectors to decide because there is no doubt about his immense talent and he is still very young.”

Amir has taken 51 wickets in 14 tests.

Former captain Butt and Asif were jailed for 30 months and one year respectively by a London court in November for their part in the gambling-inspired plot.

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Jan 10, 2012 06:36pm

ICC needs to revisit his case and show some mercy on him, put him on probation for rest of the 5 years period. If he does anything close to what he is charged with, put him in jail for long long time.

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Babar

Jan 10, 2012 06:51pm

It may sound very harsh, but bringing Amir back will set a very wrong president, will give other players green signal that it is okay to put self before country..... well in Pakistan who cares when all the leadership is doing the same.

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Dr. Aslam

Jan 10, 2012 08:38pm

yes, he definitely needs a second chance. Such an exciting talent should be given another chance.

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Fayzee

Jan 10, 2012 09:05pm

Amir is a Pakistani. How do you expect ICC will show mercy on him. Had he been an Indian or English, then your comment would have been justified..

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Vaqas

Jan 10, 2012 09:26pm

I agree with JD. He has too much talent and it Amir not playing again will be a huge loss for cricket.

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akbar ali wazir

Jan 10, 2012 09:42pm

yes should revisit his case

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zaffar nagi

Jan 10, 2012 11:16pm

Amir should be given a second chance.I am sure he has learned a lesson.At least ICC should give him one last chance.He deserves it.

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Usman

Jan 10, 2012 11:29pm

If ICC clears him for selection after he serves his 6-month sentence, I don't see why he shouldn't play again for Pakistan. After all, ICC's clearance would mean specifically that they don't object to his re-selection. He has learned his lesson and gets kudos from me for having pleaded guilty. The ring leaders, on the other hand, deserve to stay out of the game for life for making a mockery of the sport. And I bet ICC won't ever clear them for selection. I just wish all the other nations' match-fixing cricketers get punished as well. We need our beloved sport cleaned of these idiots.

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Billy

Jan 10, 2012 11:40pm

I think(personally), that Amir should be let off

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Ghulam

Jan 10, 2012 11:53pm

I agree 100%.....

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Ali Akbar

Jan 11, 2012 12:46am

True that brother!!!

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Sohail

Jan 11, 2012 01:16am

Why wait for him to do wrong. He should NOT be allowed to play at all. This was a hard example, and yes this example should stay intact... Even though I personally like him, but ethically, I don't think they should be allowed to play again. Pakistan has great talent, and we need to bring the well deserved talent up front !

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Dr Mazhar Hussain

Jan 11, 2012 02:12am

Amir is one of the greatest bowlers in recent times, he should come back for the beauty of cricket. I believe if he would be Indian, ICC would not too harsh with him because ICC is too biased organization and is damaging cricket.

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Jan 11, 2012 03:30am

PCB should take up his case with ICC and appeal for repealing his 5 year ban. It not his fault entirely and I believe he has been punished enough for the part he played. He is a young highly talented player under a corrupt PCB and captain of Pak team, something like this was bound to happen. Now PCB (who in no way is ever punished) should show some courage and try to get this young man back into international cricket.

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afzal

Jan 11, 2012 03:54am

Amir is young kid he seen other doing it so I think he could not resist the temptation and went for it he learn his lesson by going to jail and effect his entire life this was his learning experience he should learn from that and stay away from making quick-Buck and be honest player he is a world class player also he is young he have a lots of cricket in him he is only teen yet he has his entire life to play cricket lets move on he did the crime he spend the time that is in past lets move forward if he do things that he has been caught with before again then he should be ban from cricket for rest of his life and go to jail for ten years at least.

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adnan

Jan 11, 2012 04:00am

sorry. he needs to be banned for life. but unfortunate though.. we needed the british tabloid to expose this. it had long been the talk that pakistan team was involved in fixing and nothing was done locally. maybe we should allow news of the world to launch in pakistan.. heres to hoping they would expose the entire corrupt infrastructure.. no one in pakistan will thats for sure

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Jan 11, 2012 04:11am

ICC should take more responsible and mature action and revisit Amir's case. He is a small fish compare to others so there need to be consistent and responsbile approach.

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faisal

Jan 11, 2012 06:04am

This is problem with our country culture. I think he should be ban for life from Pakistani cricket. He did crime which can not be forgiven. He was role model to the young guys and if he has given pardon then we will more cases like Amir.

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afzal

Jan 11, 2012 06:49am

Amir is a young teenager.He has a lot to learn not to destroy his entire life for small thing what he did in past.I am so happy that he has been caught early so he can learn something from his past mistakes.He is a young player and a good player.Amir is a world class player.He did the crime and he spend the time he should learn the lesson from that and not to do ever thing like that again in life.If he ever get caught again and do the stupid thing what he did in past then he should be ban for life from cricket and go to jail for minimum of ten years.

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UJA

Jan 11, 2012 10:16am

I agree. Cmon guys we all know that he committed a mistake and was under the bad influence of his seniors. Most of all he knows that he has committed a mistake and may be not before but now is really ashamed of it. I want to ask all of you one question. When you were 18/ 19 have you not committed mistakes which you regret later on. At times you put your elders or families respect on line but I think we all get second chances. Even Islam teaches us to forgive and restart. Its all about second chances when most of us get second chances then why not Amir. Guys our public has given 2 most corrupt government 2 chances each to run Pakistan and both of them failed miserably and there is still no guilt in any of those politicians who have brought Pakistan nearly to stoneage. This kid seriously deserves a second chance and I sincerely request the deciesion makers to please revive this kid's future by giving him a final second chance.

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Zeeshan

Jan 11, 2012 10:17am

I completely agree with you. ICC should also see if he can assist them in nabbing these corrupt agents and should allow him to play Cricket. It's a shame he got involved in such activities. Being illiterate and young, he made such a huge blunder! He could have earned at least 100 times more if he kept on playing honestly. Butt and Asif on the hand deserve all the jail time that they have been handed over. Cricket needs bowlers like Amir!

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tarek

Jan 11, 2012 10:39am

The PCB Chairman should appeal Amir's 5 year ban to the ICC governing body. The teenager has been punished enough and should serve him and others a hard lesson. Captain Butt the mastermind behind this sinister corrupt plot should be banned for life for ever representing the home country. PCB should take the lead on this, not ICC. Asif would be too old for any contribution to Pakistan cricket.

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ikram khan

Jan 11, 2012 01:01pm

I dont think as a proud Pakistani We shouldnt allow Amir or others who brought shame to our beloved country to ever represent Pakistan. We love winners not Fixers. I live in UK and these disgraceful guys made us all look Joke infront of locals.We are talented people and we will find honest replacments.Long Live Pakistan.

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ahmed bilal

Jan 11, 2012 05:40pm

I think amir shoud be given a chance because he is still young & amir is not that much guilty as the other 2 seniors players asif and butt & both the senior playes should be ban for life.

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Wani athar

Jan 11, 2012 08:45pm

Amir should definitely be given one more chance. He is an asset to pak cricket. He has surely learnt a lesson from the past and it is almost impossible to replace a guy with such a calibre.so i think PCB needs to support Amir and get his 5 year ban curtailed for a minimum period from ICC

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Jan 12, 2012 03:18am

This is the reason why Pakistan is never going to progress. We know who is corrupt and brought us shame but we still want him. People should forget Amir, there will be will be better bowlers than him. We need to move on.

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rehabilitation

Jan 12, 2012 05:51pm

He would have served his debt to society at the end of the sentence. We need to remember we as a society have not committed him to a life sentence and at the end of his punishment we should allow him to rejoin society as a rehabilitated inidividual and a player who is better for his terrible experience and also can advocate the consequences of breaking the law to new-comers. Lets hope this is what happens.

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Kanwal

Jul 02, 2012 01:08pm

I dont believe some of the comments here. He made a mistake and should pay for it. Once he has served the sentence, he should show if he has any of the talent left, and make a come back on that basis. Why in the world PCB should appeal his ban? Has nt he humiliated us enough already? Great players may not be great sportmen too. We should accept it and move on. We have enough talent in Pakistan.

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