LAWYERS PLAY A PART IN AMIR’S RETURN
MOHAMMAD Amir’s return to the scene of his darkest hour passed without undue incident, but the words of Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan put a rather different gloss on what has been presented as a heartwarming tale of redemption. Namely that, legally, they had no choice but to bring him back.
According to Mr Khan: “People will understand that he erred, he’s accepted that he’s erred, he’s apologised for what he’s done and from day one he admitted that,‘I have been wrong and I apologise to my people and to my colleagues’. And he’s completed his rehabilitation.”
So far so good. But it was what Khan said next that left a strange taste in the mouth.
“Perhaps most importantly of all, legally the ICC has said go ahead and play him now, so if we didn’t play him on merit he would have a case against us.” Groan.
And there was more, this time about the other two involved in the spot-fixing scandal, captain Salman Butt and senior bowler Mohammad Asif, indicating the door may still be open for their return following lengthy bans and prison sentences.
“The ICC has forgiven, said they have served their sentence, now they can play.We have to be sure that these two players, who are much older than Amir, retain a certain level of playing, bowling, batting and that only when they have proven the fact that they can come to that level will we consider them. So the other two are out for the time being but we are waiting for them to prove their case.”
Mr. Khan did add the rider: “They will have to knock the door down before they are considered.”
But I’ve got news for him. In the eyes of most observers that door should remain locked and bolted and all available keys tossed into the nearest bottomless pit.