Najam Sethi optimistic on Amir ban

[jansagar]

LAHORE: Pakistan’s cricket chief said on Wednesday he was optimistic the game’s governing body would relax the five-year ban imposed on young paceman Mohammad Amir for spot-fixing.

Amir, now 21, was banned along with team-mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif for deliberately bowling no-balls in return for the promise of money during the 2010 Lord’s Test against England.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said Saturday that Amir’s case would be reviewed after a revised anti-corruption code was adopted.

The ICC will review the new code at a meeting in January and PCB chairman Najam Sethi said he was optimistic for Amir.

“We hope good news will come in January,” Sethi told reporters at Lahore airport on his return from the ICC meeting.

“I think Amir should get permission to play first-class cricket.” Sethi said Amir’s ban was harsh and the PCB has argued he should be given credit for admitting his guilt. “He is a very young cricketer and there is big support and sympathy for him,” said Sethi.