Salman, Asif, Amir may face deportation

Banishment from the UK will result in ban on re-entering the country for 10 years.

Jailed Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir are facing the prospect of deportation by the British government after completing their prison sentences.

Deportation from the UK automatically incurs a 10-year ban from entering the country again, which would prevent Amir from returning to play cricket in England once his five-year International Cricket Council suspension ends in 2015.

Earlier this week Butt and Asif were transferred to the Canterbury prison, which is a category C prison designed to allow immigration officials to process and deport inmates at the end of their sentences if they refuse to leave the country voluntarily. Overseas prisoners serving jail terms of a year or more face deportation at the end of their sentences. Butt was jailed for 30 months and Asif for 12 at Southwark Crown Court last week.

Amir, meanwhile, received a six-month sentence, after pleading guilty, and is serving time in a young offenders’ institute. His deportation will depend on whether he has a valid visa at the time of release.

A British Home Office spokesperson refused to comment on individual cases but said: “The Border Agency will consider the removal of foreign prisoners serving 12-month sentences or more but each case is considered on its merits.”

Legal teams for the players will fight deportation, which will be avoided if they agree to leave the UK on release.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2011.