Amir should be given ‘benefit of doubt’: McCullum
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WELLINGTON: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum says tainted bowler Mohammad Amir should be given “the benefit of the doubt” and allowed to play for Pakistan in limited-overs matches in New Zealand this month.
Amir has been named in the Pakistan squad which will play three Twenty20 and as many one-day games against New Zealand over the next three weeks but his participation depends on New Zealand immigration officials allowing him a visa.
The fast bowler was only 18 when he handed a five-year ban from cricket in 2011 for his involvement in spot fixing.
He also served three months of a six month prison term.
His ban, imposed by the International Cricket Council, has now ended and McCullum said Sunday he should be allowed to resume his career.
“He was a very young man at the time and he's gone through a sound rehabilitation program,” McCullum said.
“If he gets out on the field against us, then you play against the man you're playing against, not a man who may have made some mistakes as a youngster,” added the explosive batsman.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White also supported Amir's inclusion in the Pakistan squad but stressed that was a personal view and not that of his organization.
“He was a very, very young man, a boy really (when he was suspended),” White said.
“He showed remorse at the time, admitted to it. He's gone through all the rehabilitation and education as prescribed by the ICC.
“I'm personally comfortable with him coming to New Zealand and playing,” added White.
New Zealand's immigration department issued a statement before Christmas saying it had not yet received a visa application for Amir and would consider one when it is received.
A decision is likely next week.
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On DawnNews
Comments (53) Closed
Jan 03, 2016 01:10pm
So foreigners support Aamir unlike Rameez raja
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Jan 03, 2016 01:11pm
he does not deserve another chance
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Jan 03, 2016 01:12pm
Thx mccullum... nd u should stay till 2019 c wc...
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Jan 03, 2016 01:14pm
I personally admire Mc Culum's leadership skills.
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Jan 03, 2016 01:16pm
No he shouldn't.
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Jan 03, 2016 01:18pm
On what basis New Zealand can deny Amir a visa?
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Jan 03, 2016 01:18pm
I think everyone deserves a second chance. We all make mistakes more so when we are young and naive! I extend my wholehearted support to Amir as long as he stays humble in his achievements and never forgets the mistakes that he made as a youngster :).
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Jan 03, 2016 01:33pm
When he was quite young and boy BUT he was CHEATER and GAMBLER..............mentally, he is crooked even he was so young. Rehabilitation does not mean anything, even now IF he sees some good bargain he will not hesitate to STRIKE THE DEAL. NZ Immigration Authorities must REJECT his visa application..............Tomorrow terrorists will come forward with APOLOGY and request VISA FOR NZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jan 03, 2016 01:38pm
@Sultan Alvi, Toronto, Canada For his criminal background!!!!!!!
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Jan 03, 2016 01:41pm
Azhar, Professor and Ramiz Raja (the desi Englishman) all should learn from the New Zealanders how to treat Amir. Raja lost his credibility as it shows that his educational background is poor.
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Jan 03, 2016 01:52pm
More than him ,those playing with him would be put under pressure,because world would be watching them closely for any suspicious moves.
Not good for dressing room unity.
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Jan 03, 2016 02:07pm
@M. ANWAR QURESHI
your comments stink of an indian disguised as a Pakistani but if we are to take you for a second that you belong...then you need to un-belong imminently as we have no place for haters. If I can be candid, all such pakistanis of your type, Sethi et. al, should have their citizenship revoked because you are completely an illiterate and corrupt lot.
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Jan 03, 2016 02:09pm
Yes this stand is like lettered people, unlike majority of unlettered Pakistanis who always go for others's accountability but not their own first and never ready to confess & have a peep into their own collar. Grow up guys or else a transparent & impartial accountability from roots to top of every Pakistani!
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Jan 03, 2016 02:11pm
With respect to New Zealand Immigration department, please allow Amir to play in your country. Denial of visa will only make vested interest elements in Pakistan more happy.
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Jan 03, 2016 02:20pm
This article says he was handed a 5 year ban in 2011. He started playing domestic cricket in 2015. After only 4 years. Which means he did not even complete his whole sentence.
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Jan 03, 2016 02:21pm
Thank you Newzeland and McCullum for a most sporting gesture. I salute
You
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Jan 03, 2016 02:23pm
Well, on the bright side, at least he won't bowl any NO balls.
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Jan 03, 2016 02:48pm
We New Zealanders will always support him, this is our culture.
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Jan 03, 2016 02:55pm
So far I know he had British visa in 2013/14
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Jan 03, 2016 03:08pm
@Dr. Kent B Huzen That was for his trial only.
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Jan 03, 2016 03:32pm
Logical ! Unlike some non-sense back home here.
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Jan 03, 2016 03:57pm
So all the foreign players support Amir but our own players who have remained angels throughout their lives have supposedly a much higher moral standard
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Jan 03, 2016 04:12pm
@AK Azhar, Professor and Ramiz Raja should leave the cricket arena after rest of the world accepted Amir's return to international and I am sure the trio will not take back their stance against Amir's inclusion and instead they will quit cricket as a player & as a commentator/expert.
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Jan 03, 2016 04:45pm
Hats off to Mccullum and David White.
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Jan 03, 2016 04:49pm
This shows that hafeez, raja and miandad have some vested interest in Aamir not coming back. Only time will tell.
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Jan 03, 2016 05:21pm
I am surprised. Why don't people respect Rameez Raja and his cricket expertise ? When he retired he had a healthy test batting average of 31 and he also scored two, not one, two i.e. 2 test centuries in his career. He knows so much about cricket. Same can be said about our Professor. He is so academic that he completed 12 grades successfully. Because of that he is well known as academic professor. We should respect these two players opinions. . . .
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Jan 03, 2016 05:25pm
So what does Mr Raja has to say now.
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Jan 03, 2016 05:50pm
Logic,law and practice prevail in all countries.So Aamir can restart his career from where he left after serving the punishment and rehabilitation. Those against are the negativities on this universe.
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Jan 03, 2016 05:51pm
Its Ok to give him a second chance, comon sense dictates that the moment he takes field in any country he will be showered with abuses and lampooned as a cheat.
The press in these country will remind him everyday of his past, it would have dire effect on team, so please leave him at home, he may be able to play in Pakistan
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Jan 03, 2016 06:06pm
@Rahul
Its ICC that has allowed him to play so the decision has to be respected.
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Jan 03, 2016 06:27pm
I hope that he will play for Pakistan and play for a long time and play good cricket and
set many records including a record to prove that any person at any time in life can correct his deeds and come back to become a good person, he should set this example
for the youth who want to correct their lives...
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Jan 03, 2016 06:37pm
Time to move on and give the champ his right...... right to play... Play hard and fair Amir, we love you....
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Jan 03, 2016 06:50pm
The PCB board should have all ready applied for Amir visa, as there might be some complications. Like always PCB can't do anything right.
If Amir is refused a visa, then that is like New Zealand, interfering in our selection of the team.
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Jan 03, 2016 07:20pm
As a supporter of Amir, I am grateful to the NZ captain for his statement, it is pity that Amir own country players Azhar and Hafeez have tried to derail his return to Pakistan team. Thank you New Zealand.
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Jan 03, 2016 07:41pm
Benefit of doubt to a convict? Are you kidding?
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Jan 03, 2016 07:41pm
I am pretty sure the same people who are against Amir will be praising him if he manage to get a few wickets. Come on people let him play. I am not excited about Amir's inclusion, instead i am looking forward to see a player who really gives a tough time to his opponents in the field.
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Jan 03, 2016 07:56pm
@M. Anwar Qureshi Terrorists have no value. Terrorists punnishment is death sentence. But dont compare M Amir who served his sentence more than enough. He proved himself to be the best due to his form. It will benifit Pakistan and justice for a man to earn a living.
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Jan 03, 2016 07:58pm
Only Mohammed Amir can stop all his critics and detractor when he thrashes new zealander at their own turf. So I m very positive he will redeem himself and put a zipper to his naysayer . Pakistan should be tolerant not only for religious or ethnic minority but also for those people who have committed crime , got punishment and wants to redeem themselves. Think different
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Jan 03, 2016 08:10pm
Only sane, mature and rational minds can understand and support Amir. Pseudo intellectuals will have tunnel vision and closed minds and wouldn't be able to see the true picture.
Good luck Amir.
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Jan 03, 2016 08:13pm
The best Amir can now do after so much criticism is to bowl furiously and make new records, gain everything he has lost in past five years...and set an example to prove
that he is bach and a improved person...
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Jan 03, 2016 09:55pm
Wow! People with brains like McCullum supporting Aamir, but people like Ramiz with lot of hair but no brain keep criticizing him.
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Jan 03, 2016 09:57pm
1995 wasim waqar salim got the benifit, why not he
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Jan 04, 2016 12:58am
@Sultan Alvi, Toronto, Canada They haven't denied him a visa. They haven't yet received an application for one.
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Jan 04, 2016 01:03am
@Rahul Did he play any cricket from the time of the allegations to the time the sentence was handed out? He was allowed to resume his domestic career early because of what we may call 'good behaviour'.
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Jan 04, 2016 01:21am
This guy is an immensely talented quick bowler. He has gone through rehabilitation and I would love to see him bowl in int'l matches again. If none of the players in the Pakistani dressing room object to his return, or if those who do can be convinced otherwise, he should be included in the team. Even so, his inclusion will most likely herald some tough times for the national squad. Everything they do will be closely scrutinised. The only way put will be if Amir plays sincerely and to the best of his abilities and convinces his critics that he really has turned a new leaf.
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Jan 04, 2016 02:38am
I have nothing against Amir playing again but I am concerned that the media, the board and many greats are giving him too much push and praise. He should have stayed low key for some time to come and should have kept the feeling of guilt and thankfulness for being given a chance. All this praise will go in his mind and make him feel a chosen one which I don't like at all.
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Jan 04, 2016 03:30am
Thank you Mr. McCullum. Thank you for your most unbiased and balanced opinion. You are a far cry from our own self righteous personalities like Ramiz Raja, Bazid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali.
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Jan 04, 2016 03:45am
New Zealand is full of criminals. So much so that even the Australian prisons are also full of NZ criminals. How can they (NZ) say or even deny a visa to Muhammad Amir whose crime was of the least category.
Only a few weeks ago there was a diplomatic row between Australia and NZ over Australia deporting scores of hard core NZ criminals and NZ authorities refusing to take them back even though they are their own citizens.
This poor guy copped so much attention just because he is an international level personality, otherwise there are much bigger culprits everywhere in the world who roam freely around the globe.
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Jan 04, 2016 03:47am
We want to see Amir back in action. The Cricket lovers around the world stand by him.
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Jan 04, 2016 04:54am
Well said McCullum.
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Jan 04, 2016 09:03am
Mr. Raja, you are one stubborn person!
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Jan 04, 2016 11:21am
I have been closely watching the Pakistani cricket over the last 20 years and found Ramiz Raja act like an opposition towards cricket improvement in Pakistan!!
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Jan 04, 2016 03:27pm
As a professional he clearly didn't care to ruin the image of Pakistan cricket. Why allow him back to represent the Pakistani people again ?
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