Mohammad Amir hopes for leniency in five-year ban

PCB Caretaker Chairman Sethi to fight fast-bowler’s case in London.

KARACHI: With bated breath, banned fast-bowler Mohammad Amir is keenly following the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Caretaker Chairman Najam Sethi’s efforts for his case at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Board meeting this week.

Sethi, along with PCB Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed, will leave for London today for the meeting to be held from October 17 to 19. The PCB chief’s target will be to earn leniency for Amir on his five-year ban.

Since the day he took over, the interim chairman has vowed to support the young pacer. He raised the case at the ICC’s annual conference this year following which the governing body formed a committee to look into the possibilities of relaxing the conditions of the ban.

The committee includes Giles Clarke, Wally Edwards, Imran Khawaja and Keith Oliver, who will present recommendations to the ICC Board on the basis of which a decision will be made in this week’s meeting.



Although a reduction in the duration of the ban may not be possible for Amir, the PCB is hoping to secure some relaxation in the conditions of the ban — permission for playing domestic cricket or allowance to use the board’s facilities to help him stay in form.

Amir eager for comeback on PCB grounds

The fast-bowler is eagerly waiting for a ‘positive’ result from the meeting.

“I would like to get a go-ahead for domestic cricket and permission to use PCB’s facilities during the ban,” Amir told The Express Tribune.

“Right now I am just training lightly to keep myself fit. Although I’ve lost two kilograms and am reasonably fit, it’s still not the same as the training a player can get at the National Cricket Academy.

“A player cannot give his 100% in training until he has targets in front of him.”

Amir hoped that Sethi would succeed in convincing the ICC.

“This is what I am hoping for. I would also like to request the fans to pray for me,” he said before praising Sethi.

“No top official has supported me like him. I would like to thank the PCB chairman for all he has done for me. I’ve said it many times and will say it again that I’ve learned my lesson. I look forward to playing with sincerity and honesty.”

PCB submits counsel’s report to ICC    

Meanwhile, the PCB has submitted the Queen’s Counsel report to the ICC which is expected to favour Amir’s case.

Sethi sought legal opinion from the England-based counsel last month in an attempt to ensure Amir’s early return to competitive cricket.

“The report is encouraging which is why the PCB is optimistic of a positive outcome,” said an official close to the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2013.

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