Amir reprieve will set an example for others: Richardson

ICC’s senior official pleased with Pakistan bowler’s reformation

MUMBAI: The reprieve given to Pakistan bowler Muhammad Amir in a spot-fixing scandal will encourage corrupt players to come clean and help maintain the game's integrity, said International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive David Richardson on Tuesday.

Amir and his former teammates Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif were all banned for spot-fixing, particularly for bowling deliberate no-balls by pre-arrangement at Lord's, during Pakistan's tour of England in 2010.

The trio served jail sentences in Britain and were given minimum five-year bans by an ICC tribunal.

Amir's five-year ban was scheduled to expire on September 2 but ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) Chairman Ronnie Flanagan exercised his discretion to allow him to return to domestic cricket with immediate effect on Thursday.

"Notwithstanding what he [Amir] did, no one suggests that we should be tolerant or be lax on players who get involved in these types of things," said the 55-year-old Richardson.

"But in his case, he admitted his involvement and since then he's made every effort to disclose everything that he knows to help the ACSU with their education programmes.

"Therefore, I think he served as a good example to players who might have got involved in the past, regret what they have done and there's a way for them to come back in due course."

‘Minnows better prepared to cause Cup upsets’

Richardson predicted an open World Cup, saying the associate members are well prepared to upset major teams in the tournament.

Four second-tier nations – Afghanistan, Ireland, UAE and Scotland – will join the 10 full members for the 11th edition of the tournament from February 14 to March 29.

While Ireland stunned Pakistan and England at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups respectively, minnows Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh in their first win over a Test-playing nation last year.

"The associates and the way they are prepared for this tournament, any other country will be silly to take them lightly," said Richardson. "If they do, there's a real chance of an upset being caused.

“They will be the underdogs in most of the matches but a surprise or two can impact the group standings.”

 

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