From News of the World (left to right): Bowler Asif, skipper Butt, bowler Amir, keeper Akmal
For many of us who grew up in Pakistan, our childhoods were filled with memories of cricket blaring on the television, children playing the sport on the street, even the Howzat popsicles Wall’s promoted in conjunction with major sporting matches. Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis are all icons, not just in the cricketing world, but among all Pakistanis. We are a country that bleeds for cricket. So you can imagine the outrage that has been generated from the latest spot-fixing scandal, in which several members of the Pakistan national cricket team allegedly took bribes for rigging a match against England. Below, Shaheryar Mirza, a reporter with Express 24/7 and a self-confessed cricket fanatic, delves into the scandal below:
On Sunday, The News of the World broke a sensational story, reporting that a cricket fixer, Mazhar Majeed, accepted £150,000 pounds for allegedly directing Pakistani bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif to deliver three ‘no-balls’ at specific junctures during the final test match against England at Lords. Hidden-camera footage shows Mazhar Majeed accepting money from a reporter posing as a member of a ‘Far East gambling cartel’ and players Umar Amin and Wahab Riaz taking jackets lined with cash from Majeed, apparently in return for having done his bidding. The News of the World’s video dossier also shows Majeed bragging that he bribed the players to deliver those no-balls at that precise time.
The players at the center of the controversy are Salman Butt (Captain) Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. A total of seven players are suspected to be a part of the fix (two could be Umar Amin and Wahab Riaz as they also appear in video footage), though Butt and Akmal are said to be the ‘kingpins’ of the scam. Video footage of the bowlers delivering no-balls exactly when Majeed said they would is the smoking gun, particularly since Amir’s no ball is so blatant and exaggerated and bowlers rarely ever miss the mark by that much a margin.
In the worst-case scenario, Pakistan’s players will be found guilty of spot-fixing and the investigations will lead to greater information on match-fixing and other such misconduct by Pakistan’s players and the offenders will be banned – for life. The Pakistan Cricket Board, (PCB) which has also come under fire and has been held responsible for this embarrassment, could choose to make an example of the players to let themselves off the hook. Calls for the PCB to be dissolved can be heard on every channel in the country.
Pakistani players have had little credibility since the match-fixing scandals of the 1990’s and the Pakistan Cricket Board has always been accused of being soft on offenders. That reputation will be more deeply entrenched among Pakistani fans and followers of the sport around the world. Like all scandals, the outrage will intensify as the scandal unfolds, but after punishment is meted out, it will slowly fade to the back of people’s minds and Pakistani players will continue to perform through a haze of suspicion, as they done have over the last decade.
However, the biggest casualty of this scandal will undoubtedly be Mohammad Amir. The teenage strike bowler is arguably the biggest find for Pakistani bowling since Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Not only does he have immense natural talent, he has ability years beyond his experience. Amir is also blessed to be born with a high cricket I.Q., for lack of a better term. Fans of Pakistan cricket will be torn between feelings of betrayal and the desire to see Mohammad Amir fulfill his potential as a legend of Pakistani bowling.
That is where the toughest question arises out of this scandal; should Mohammad Amir be banned for life if he is found guilty? The heart says no. Despite how embarrassing and filthy it is to cheat at Test level, and that too at Lords, the Mecca of cricket, a lifetime ban would be disproportionate. To make an example out of him would be understandable, but not justified. This is a first-time offense for Amir and he is not guilty of fixing an entire match. At the end of the day, he is an eighteen-year-old kid and could not have been complicit in a scam of this proportion without senior players leading him into it.
This is ultimately a failure of the PCB to adequately chaperone Amir and shield him from people like Majeed who have preyed on much more experienced and knowing players in the past. Those senior players like Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Asif are all responsible for this if it turns out to be true. A lifetime ban for all three of the previously mentioned players would be justified and Mohammad Asif, in fact, would deserve such a punishment as it is obvious he has not learned from his past mistakes. While Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal may also be first-time offenders, one is the captain and the other is a senior player in the squad. Make examples of them. Not Mohammad Amir.
‘Match fixing’ where the entire outcome of the match is pre-determined and ‘fancy-fixing’ where certain scores by a batsmen or a specific number of runs within a certain amount of overs are predetermined, plague the game and every country that plays the sport. In numerous conversations I’ve had with reporters who have covered cricket for over two decades, fixing is mentioned casually as a fact in their conversations about the sport. Some insiders say that match-fixing has gone down to the extent of their knowledge, but it is still frequent and reaches the highest levels of cricket, including cricket boards.
The players and boards are still just pawns of a much greater game being played by gambling syndicates. The amount of money at stake in cricket has skyrocketed with India netting the greatest profits from the sport and as a result also plays host to the biggest gambling syndicates. Mazhar Majeed, the man at the center of the controversy, expressed that he deals with ‘an Indian party’. These gambling syndicates must be investigated all over the world. As long as they can readily get access to players, fixing will continue to plague the game. In an ideal world, honest players would be the greatest protection against this, but sport has proven time and again that people do cheat for the right price.
I run the risk of sounding like an apologist calling for Mohammad Amir to be excused for embarrassing the entire nation. But in my defense, I would rather see action taken against gambling syndicates. The first rule of journalism and also in crime-fighting is ‘follow the money’. The money lies with the syndicates as does the highest form of accountability. Give a lifetime ban to the three senior players I mentioned earlier. Dissolve the wretched and systematically corrupt Pakistan Cricket Board while you’re at it. Mohammad Amir should not be made an example for the Pakistan Cricket Board’s failure to prevent and punish fixing in the past. Do punish Amir, but the calls for a life-long ban are unfair. Mohammad Amir is a rare player who has the potential to give back immeasurably to international cricket for a decade to come. He could certainly give back much more than he would have taken away by bowling those two no-balls.
The contribution is the sole opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the opinion of CHUP. If you would like to contribute a piece to CHUP, please email Kalsoom at changinguppakistan[at]gmail[dot]com. Pieces should be no longer than 800 words please. For past contributions, click here.
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Amazing piece! Truly depicts the battle of heart and mind here. I agree to the point made here, of Aamir being dragged into this foil by the senior players (read: gamblers); kick them all out, hang them in cricketing terms but let the poor soul be given one chance.. he might just become the biggest patriot cricketer in the history of any nation!
He’s a minor, come on! Get hold of the PCB chairman first!
i m totally agree wiv dis article dat karman, salman nd asif should hav life ban den amir i think he doesnt nt deserve 2 have major punishment i feel really bad 4 him i hp dey learn sumthin out of dis
I was just SO angry to see this news especially in midst hardship that the flood victims are going through. I am ashamed and extremely embarrassed as a Pakistani that these cricketers to whom the whole nation look up had to do this to us, especially now. Shame on these players for embarrassing the whole nation especially at such difficult time. In addition to banning them I hope these guys are put through some kind of moral boot camp.
This story made me really upset today:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE67T1A120100830
“Protesters in the eastern city of Lahore slapped donkeys with shoes and pelted them with rotten tomatoes on Monday to vent their anger at the latest Pakistani cricket fixing scandal.
Protesters led a procession of donkeys with the names of players accused of taking bribes to fix incidents during the fourth test against England stuck on the foreheads of the animals.”
What did the poor donkeys do to you! Horrible to pelt them with tomatoes when the anger should really be directed towards the cricket players.
Seriosuly… just so sad. Such ‘warped’ definition of morality- I’m sure these people pray 5 times a day and fast. Disgraceful!!! UGH!!!!
I NEVER liked the Pakistani cricket team because of their constant bad behavior which insults the whole nation- they do not deserve the attention nor the endorsement (and I am a PROUD Pakistani). Maybe we can bring back field hocky- it’s much more of an athletic sport and the players seem VERY decent and they play with dignity.
Anyway, let’s stop giving these spoiled cricketers anymore excuses- this will not help Pakistani cricket nor the country- enough is enough. We give WAY too many excuses for bad conduct and sadly, not only in Cricket – chalo, koi baat nahi. NO! Tough love is in order!
Grrrreaaatttt. Because our country really needs this right now. Really. Bah Humbug!
The problem with the argument is that it is difficult to draw lines between the guilty. It’s tricky because you really do want to see more cricket from Amir (while the other three are somewhat expendable). But I think life bans for any of the players is probably too harsh. The key is to give them a harsh enough sentence so that it acts as a deterrant.
On a lighter note, this is a great opportunity for hockey to step up and fill the void for the next few years as Pk cricket muddles through the period with mediocre performances.
Why insult donkeys by calling them Kamran Akmal or Salman Butt?????
Leave amir out ! Obviously, the author does not believe in the “broken window theory”. Last time, it was Wasim akram, the super talented, who was allowed to get away and this time we wish the same for Amir.
The results are for all to see though
Good article. But places disproportionate emphasis on the players.
We are talking about national pride, thousands (if not millions) of dollars, endorsement by sponsors, membership of ICC, investigation by local police etc. etc……And it is hard to believe that the players were not monitored and that this incident came as a surprise to everyone. Which team management in its right mind will not issue code of conduct to players and/or monitor their activities? How on earth did the three meet a fixer, get wads of cash, take it inside the dressing room and do spot fixing without (a) The manager or coach knowing (b) Other team mates knowing?
This reminds me of the AQ Khan saga, who (as the story goes) in his “personal capacity” used military transport planes to ferry crates of centrifuges to North Korea and everyone else was pristine and blameless and did not know what is going on.
Let us see this from a different angle. The director general of PCB is Javed Miandad who is the in-law of Dawood Ibrahim — arguably the biggest gangster in Pakistan and probably controls the biggest betting operations. Has it ever come up for discussion about what Miandad is doing on the board?
The players are just the symptom of the rot, the disease is in the board itself. Like all things Pakistani, the road probably leads to great heights.
Aditya- That is a fair complaint and I admit that I am being apologist about certain aspects. As I said in my piece, ‘the heart says’ and I also mentioned that a harsh punishment would be understandable. And if you want to apply the broken window theory than it begins with the PCB at least, not the players. It was not Amir who let Wasim Akram off the hook. The board should know exactly who their players are interacting with while on tour. To let a ‘fixer’ become close with an 18 year old star on the rise is the negligence of the board. In any case, it would be deeply dissapointing if he were banned, and I feel that there is a fair argument to make for a lighter punishment. First-time offenders for crimes against society are even treated differently than repeat offenders.
“First-time offenders for crimes against society are even treated differently than repeat offenders.”
That is for offenses like drunk driving, obscenity, eve teasing, etc. Not when you cheat for money in front of the whole world. Not when you are playing for your country. Not when you are representing the people of Pakistan. Not when you are expected to uphold the Gentleman’s game’s values.
Think of the message you are sending out. Cheat all you can when you are young and you will be pardoned considering your age. Think of it unemotionally, maybe you will understand.
Also, I head ICC will take a call on this not PCB. THANK GOD FOR THAT!
You can always expect the PCB to do the wrong thing. Cheaters and traitors should be shown no mercy at any cost.
The UK Gambling Act of 2005 states that anybody who cheats, attempts to cheat or assists another person to cheat at gambling is liable to be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison as well as a fine of 5,000 pounds.
Law is a law.
@Anoop
“Think of it unemotionally, maybe you will understand.”
Mr. Mirza already admitted that he is not thinking unemotionally and he is thinking from heart when he says that Amir should be given lighter punishment. That punishment could be that he cannot take up any endorsement or represent country or play county cricket for next 2-3 years…which is pretty harsh enough but not as harsh as life time ban. But lighter punishment if means ban for next 2 series is not going to be deterrent in any which way.
“Amir should be given lighter punishment. That punishment could be that he cannot take up any endorsement or represent country or play county cricket for next 2-3 years…which is pretty harsh enough but not as harsh as life time ban. ”
–> So people who do match fixing in other countries get life bans(Azhar, Jadeja,etc) but Amir should get only 2-3 years?
This is double standards. If a guy who has been caught with his pants down deserves only 2 to 3 years then what would you have demanded if the evidence was far less overwhelming.
Cheats deserve no mercy. No matter who he is. The more popular he is more punishment should be given.
Its a state of mind that has to change. If in 1999, PCB had not shielded Wasim Akram and other greats, I dont think this would have happened.
“This is a first-time offense for Amir and he is not guilty of fixing an entire match”
Ok. I see your point. I’ll convince a 18 year old kid to cut off a man’s legs or arms. Since, he is just an 18 year old kid and has not killed anyone, he should be pardoned or given lesser punishment than the one given to an older person for the same offense?
I think your emotions for him are ruining your judgment. Gavaskar has said those who are accused and found guilt must be not only banned but their records erased from Cricket’s history as if they hadn’t existed. I agree with him.
According to Pakistani law 18 year old is not a minor. Besides, how old must you be to realize you’ve broken the law and cheating is a crime? Dont they teach that to you in school level? I guess Mohammed Amir skipped all those Quranic lessons in school.
“Mohammad Amir is a rare player who has the potential to give back immeasurably to international cricket for a decade to come.”
–> Its not about that. Its about integrity. Its about the Game, which is also known as Gentleman’s game.
By doing what you wish, you will be telling the future Pakistani cricketers that cheat while you can early in your life and you’ll be let off considering you are just a kid.
Also, a kid doesn’t deal directly with people like Majeed. He knew what was he getting into and was dealing with him directly and not persuaded to do so.
Look at what the News of the world report points to: “Just to convince us Amir was onside Majeed telephoned the young star at his hotel. “Are you sleeping f***er?” he asked crudely. Amir confirmed that’s what he was trying to do.
“Ok, sleep,” said Majeed. “We’ve spoken about everything before anyway. Ok, don’t mind. You sleep’.”
But when Amir prepared for his day’s work at the 4th Test on Thursday morning, he was certainly awake to what was expected of him. ”
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/924391/The-three-balls-that-will-shake-world-of-cricket.html
–> He is not a “kid”. He is a young adult and should be dealt with accordingly. Please dont encourage youngsters in my country who will think “As long as we do it when we are in our teens we can get away with it.”
Stop supporting that cheat and traitor. Have some shame.
Just got around to reading this. While there is no doubt that accepting money to bowl a no-ball is wrong, it is wrong,in my view, to call it cheating. Spot fixing is not match fixing. And it hasn’t been proven yet that he actually did it.
Anoop:
Stop branding him a cheat and a traitor until you can prove that he is one – this is not just ‘innocent before proven guilty’, it’s also illegal – it counts as slander and libel to STATE that someone IS a cheater. For your own sake – watch your language.
@nsahmed
There are lot of opened cases where in we know who did what and but simply do have enough evidence to convict them. Just take so many of our corrupt politicians, Should we stop blaming them? Even if there is not enough proof to find them guilty means that they should go free?
Why do you vote against a certain candidate who has a tarnished image but none of the cases have proven against him in court of law?
Samir, this may be similar to one of those cases where there is a lot of evidence, but not enough for the courts. In fact I do believe that some level of fixing occurred – if not in the Lord’s Test, then definitely before that. Probably in ODIs. However I would steer clear of making judgments, that is all.
Finally, cricketers are not politicians. False analogy.
“Spot fixing is not match fixing.”
–> That is just an very weak excuse. It can easily be disproved.
The bowlers bowled 3 no-balls. In these time of one-days and T20s teams quite often lose by 1 or 2 runs. So, 3 extra balls could generate a maximum of 3×6 runs for the no-balls + 3 extra runs for the no-balls + 3×6 runs for the extra balls to be bowled. So, thats 18+3+18. I know its almost impossible to score the maximum but even if the opposing team achieves half as much then that could decide the match!
Even if the intent was to spot-fix they could end up doing match-fixing.
“Stop branding him a cheat and a traitor until you can prove that he is one ”
–> I am not a court and there in India we enjoy Freedom of Expression.
If one follows your argument of calling a criminal a criminal only when the charges are proved then we can even say Osama Bin Laden is innocent until proven guilty! There is far less evidence in the public domain for Osama than these 3 cheats. But, the world still calls him a Terrorist, a criminal.
How can you NOT call them traitors and cheaters? They betrayed their nation by accepting money to fix a match while playing for the country. They cheated thousands of people who involve in LEGAL gambling in Britain. Hence, its the right thing to call them cheaters and traitors. That is what they are. If you think otherwise please enlighten me.
Anoop, I wasn’t making excuses for anything. Just saying that spot fixing and match fixing are two different things, and that it is wrong in many ways to curse at someone on the basis of allegations.
“Even if the intent was to spot-fix they could end up doing match-fixing.” – No, dear sir, they are BY DEFINITION two different things. The core intent is different. Even if a game is decided by one run, and that game featured a spot-fixed fake no-ball, it still counts as spot fixing and NOT match-fixing. Because no one fixed the result of the match itself.
“I am not a court and there in India we enjoy Freedom of Expression.”
Exactly. You’re not a court, and you’re not a judge. Don’t be one.
“They betrayed their nation by accepting money to fix a match while playing for the country.”
If you know that for a FACT, then you should be talking to Scotland Yard, not commenting here. “Hence”, it’s the WRONG thing to call them cheaters and traitors.
(By the way,that India hook was pretty poor.)
@nsahmed,
“No, dear sir, they are BY DEFINITION two different things. ”
–> If you want to win your arguments on technicalities and “definitions” go ahead. Atleast we can agree spot fixing CAN decide the fate of a match. That is all what ICC will be looking for.
Its like comparing Murder with cutting someones hand and letting him bleed to death. The end result is the same and so is the punishment.
“Exactly. You’re not a court, and you’re not a judge. Don’t be one.”
–> You misunderstood. I am not a court and I dont need to go through all the lengthy procedure to decide who is guilty and who is not. After all the evidence that is available in the Public domain(Consider what else might be kept secret by the ICC and News of the world to be thrown in during the trial) you think they should be given the benefit of doubt by the ICC for time being then I dont know what to say.
ICC is International Cricket Council not International Criminal Court. It doesn’t need clinching evidence to punish someone as is the norm with Criminal procedures. So, dont get your hopes up. They can be banned for giving insufficient reasons for doing what they(shamelessly) did. Explaining 2 humongous no-balls right when the “fixer” said they would occur,carrying thousands of pounds in cash, taking a jacket full of money in such a manner,etc will be really hard .I wont be surprised if they have spilled the beans already inorder to get minimum punishment.
Anyway, it’ll be fun to see what happens next. Who needs a soap-opera when you have this?
@nsahmed
Dear,
Following is the definition I know for term Analogy. I might have been deceived when I it to compare “likeness” between “corrupt politicians” getting away and “corrupt cricketers” getting away.
“(n.) A resemblance of relations; an agreement or likeness between things in some circumstances or effects, when the things are otherwise entirely different. Thus, learning enlightens the mind, because it is to the mind what light is to the eye, enabling it to discover things before hidden.”
I’m making my last comment on this post here.
Anoop:
“If you want to win your arguments on technicalities and “definitions” go ahead.”
Yes, definitions matter. I care about the truth, you see, irrelevant as it may seem to you.
“Its like comparing Murder with cutting someones hand and letting him bleed to death. The end result is the same and so is the punishment.”
No, actually…the intention is what differentiates spot fixing and match fixing. It’s a simple enough distinction to make.
Allegations are not evidence..but I won’t throw the dictionary in your face. Definitions are obviously too much for you to handle. And I never said ‘they should be given the benefit of doubt’…but I do believe in the principle of innocent before proven guilty. It has far more precedence and consequence than either of us can comprehend.
Sameer:
I can tell that you are good at copy pasting from dictionary.net. You should be able to tell that everyone commenting on this blog is tech-savvy enough to use Google.
You clearly didn’t understand – I repeat, comparing cricketers to politicians is like comparing apples to oranges. Both can be rotten, but that doesn’t mean they can be compared equally. They are fundamentally different.
@nsahmed,
“the intention is what differentiates spot fixing and match fixing.”
Yes. The intention was to cheat and to make money. They obviously didnt think that what they did can lose them the match. You are slowly but surely agreeing with my point.
“I care about the truth”
–> You cant handle the truth! lol.. Had to get that one out of my system.
Good that you care about the truth. The truth that 3 Pakistani cricketers are cheaters will be proved in a court of law under ICC guidelines.
“but I do believe in the principle of innocent before proven guilty.”
–> Yes, Hakimullah Mehsud be tried in a court of law since he must be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Same for Osama, for Fazlullah, etc.
There are exceptions to this rule, and you know it. As I pointed out Murder suspects are not given bail under Pakistani law if the evidence is overwhelming. You can compare bail with suspension in this case. The cheating trio have been rightfully suspended and their future is pending on the trial which will definitely end their careers.
Considering this piece of news came out:
http://cricket.zeenews.com/fullstory.aspx?nid=32390
I am pretty much sure their career has ended.
Goodbye cheaters. Goodbye traitors. They have dragged Pakistan cricket down the drain and have made sure that no ICC member country will be willing to host matches for Pakistan.
Kalsoom,
I cant believe you let this guy stick up for a cheat on your blog. I expected much better from you.
I thought the posts you allow to be published on your blog you agree with the point of view. Do you? This is just shameful.
Anoop,
I have a disclaimer on the bottom of contributions for this very reason – contributors are welcome to send in well-reasoned pieces and no, I don’t always have to agree. This is Shaheryar’s opinion, and while I understand your point of view, I think he made some fair points in the post. I’ll let him address your critiques.
Again this is the disclaimer: “The contribution is the sole opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the opinion of CHUP. “
Ok. Fair enough.
What do you think should happen? I know the real judge will be ICC but if you were ICC what would you do with Amir?
@ Anoop
“So people who do match fixing in other countries get life bans(Azhar, Jadeja,etc) but Amir should get only 2-3 years?”
Don’t let this my country your country thing get into argument because you start sounding like certain Rafey Kashmiri. Also, I am from India and since when you have started considering Jadeja and Azhar as 18 years old?
There is a very little difference between a 17 years old and 18 years old and even court considers the punishment for a 18 years old first time offender as against 28 years old chronic offender. 18 years old will definitely will not be sent to juvenile facility for capital offence but most certainly will not be give capital punishment either. I am putting an analogy of capital offence because that is how you want to treat this whole thing as.
Cool off, think and then put your thoughts into words.
Thanks
The circumstances that lead to this is alarming..when even the true icon of the day is dragged into the mud..the punishment to butt n akmal,if proven must also include the injustice they caused to the prodigy that amir is.
Most truly agree!!!
@Sameer,
Lot of people who are under 20 have been executed and have been treated like an adult. I am not saying put Amir on Death Row. Not even close. But, just to show that 18+ people are considered to be adults and are responsible for their actions under law.
Lets take the example of US.The youngest person to be executed in the 20th century was George Stinney, electrocuted in South Carolina at the age of 14, June 16, 1944. The last execution of a juvenile may have been Leonard Shockley, who died in the Maryland gas chamber April 10, 1959, at the age of 17. No one has been under age 19 at time of execution since at least 1964. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, 22 people have been executed for crimes committed under the age of 18. 21 were 17 at the time of the crime. The last person to be executed for a crime committed as a juvenile was Scott Hain April 3, 2003 in Oklahoma.
Crime is a crime. Cheating is cheating. If you come up with the argument that teens should not be punished because they are teens then what on earth is the law for?
The law must follow its course. You cant change it for one guy. That would defeat the very purpose!
Hope people dont think I’m asking for death for cheating. I dont believe in putting one on death row, just to clarify.
OK dont be harsh on Amir but please oh puhlease….kill Kamran Akmal. What the f***
Hi . I am an Indian . I have been admiring many pakistan cricketers like Wasim , Waqar , Inzamam , Malik etc . I also have to agree that I even like Salman Butt , Asif and Ameer too . Especially Ameer , who is very near to me in terms of age is one of my favorite pace-man.
The recent disastrous floods has left the entire country in shock but I think this is a more severe shock not only to Pakistan , but to all the followers of CRICKET RELIGION. Such anti-cricketing activities damage the spirit of game & destroy the hopes of fans.
They deserve severe punishment . Only Noble-men should be allowed to play the noble-mens’ game.
” WEEDS ELIMINATION RESULTS IN A QUALITY YIELD.”
[...] 3.29pm: There’s been a lot of debate below the line over whether Amir should be treated with more leniency because of hi age if the three are found guilty. I can see the arguments on both sides but thought this was an interesting post on the subject worth sharing, from the Changing up Pakistan blog: [...]
[...] 3.29pm: There’s been a lot of debate below the line over whether Amir should be treated with more leniency because of hi age if the three are found guilty. I can see the arguments on both sides but thought this was an interesting post on the subject worth sharing, from the Changing up Pakistan blog: [...]
That is where the toughest question arises out of this scandal; should Mohammad Amir be banned for life if he is found guilty? The heart says no. Despite how embarrassing and filthy it is to cheat at Test level, and that too at Lords, the Mecca of cricket, a lifetime ban would be disproportionate. To make an example out of him would be understandable, but not justified.
This is a first-time offense for Amir and he is not guilty of fixing an entire match. At the end of the day, he is an eighteen-year-old kid and could not have been complicit in a scam of this proportion without senior players leading him into it.
This is ultimately a failure of the PCB to adequately chaperone Amir and shield him from people like Majeed who have preyed on much more experienced and knowing players in the past. Those senior players like Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Asif are all responsible for this if it turns out to be true. A lifetime ban for all three of the previously mentioned players would be justified and Mohammad Asif, in fact, would deserve such a punishment as it is obvious he has not learned from his past mistakes. While Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal may also be first-time offenders, one is the captain and the other is a senior player in the squad. Make examples of them. Not Mohammad Amir.
What if Amir gets banned as well for this, Cricket of Pakistan will not have potenital bowler like him for decades, if any one would had seen him playing will note he plays with his heart out, i hope he comes out clean as hes just a minor here even if found guilty he should be spared. Asif would had been the best test bowler in some time to come, come on cant we spare this lot as asif also contributes in the game hes a class compared to glenn of australia. Pakistan Cricket will rise if they are back or we could had said Pakistan cricket would had grown if they were playing, lets hope for the best