PCB seeks legal advice on Amir case

Interim chairman Sethi wants banned bowler to resume domestic cricket soon.

The PCB is in pursuit of getting Mohammad Amir’s five-year ban reduced and will seek advice from the Queen’s Counsel in England in that regard.

The paceman was banned after being found guilty of spot-fixing in the infamous Lord’s Test against England in 2010 along with Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt.

PCB’s interim chairman, Najam Sethi, plans to have Amir playing in the domestic circuit soon so he can remain in shape when his ban ends.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the chances of Amir’s ban being reduced are bleak as the ICC has no such clause. However, the PCB wants legal opinion on the matter as they want Amir to resume competitive cricket as soon as possible.

The reduction in ban seems close to impossible as a five-year penalty is the minimum sentence under the ICC’s code of conduct. An ICC sub-committee is to meet soon to discuss PCB’s request of allowing Amir to play club cricket. However, concessions are only likely to be granted in the final six to eight months of his ban.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2013.

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