Pakistan paceman Mohamed Amir chats with children suffering from thalassemia at a treatment centre in Lahore yesterday. Amir's spot-fixing ban expired yesterday. (AFP)

Reuters/Lahore

The International Cricket Council’s five-year bans on former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and pace bowler Mohamed Asif ended yesterday, but the long road back for the players will begin under heavy restrictions.
The pair will be under strict monitoring for months before being allowed to play international cricket again, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“The PCB has given me a target that includes improving fitness, attending sessions with a psychiatrist and delivering lectures to young cricketers for awareness against misdeeds as a national player,” Asif, 32, said during a practice session at the Model Town Ground in Lahore yesterday. “I will have to achieve the target in two months and only after that will I be allowed to play freely.”
Butt and Asif were banned for spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010, particularly for bowling deliberate no-balls by pre-arrangement during the fourth test at Lord’s.
Both have served jail sentences in Britain and were given minimum five-year bans by an ICC tribunal. Butt was also given a two-year suspended sentence.
Both players said they were ready to meet the board’s demands. “I just want to play cricket, which runs through my blood,” former captain Butt said.
A PCB official said the trio would only be allowed to play “controlled cricket and start with club cricket for now.”
“They will be strictly monitored by professional cricketers and psychiatrists for a few months. If they prove their fitness and morality, they will be allowed to play domestic cricket at the first-class level,” the official said, declining to be named.
A third player, fast bowler Mohamed Amir, was also banned until September but the chairman of ICC’s anti-corruption unit exercised his discretion to give him an early reprieve in January.
Left-arm paceman Amir was marked as a great prospect for Pakistan in his early days. At the age of 18 he became the youngest bowler to capture 50 test wickets during the controversial test match at Lord’s in 2010.
According to a revised anti-corruption code, a banned player can appeal the ICC to allow him to resume playing domestic cricket before the end of the ban.
The PCB had decided to help Amir with his appeal but ruled out helping Butt and Asif with any relaxation.
Though the ban is lifted, serious opposition from officials and hostility from Pakistan’s cricket-obsessed fans will mean the road to redemption will be a long one for the tainted trio.
Age also weighs heavily against Butt and Asif and the long lay-off has exposed their fragile fitness.
“Their return will be the biggest injustice to players who play clean cricket,” former cricket captain Rashid Latif said. “There should not be any space for criminals in international cricket.”
But the players said they have served their time and hoped the nation has forgiven them. “People come to watch my practice sessions and pray for my return,” Butt, 30, said. “This shows that they have forgiven me and want to see me in action again.”   


Amir apologises to fans as fixing ban expires
Disgraced Pakistan paceman Mohamed Amir issued a public apology to fans and players yesterday as his five-year ban for spot-fixing expired, vowing to make a fresh beginning. The 23-year-old is eligible to return to all levels of cricket now, along with Salman Butt and Mohamed Asif, who were also banned for their part in the notorious 2010 Lord’s spot-fixing scandal.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) kicked them out of the game for five years for orchestrating deliberate no-balls in return for money during a Test against England. They were also jailed by a British court.
Amir, who has repeatedly voiced contrition for the scandal, said sorry once again. “I sincerely apologise to everyone I have hurt—my colleagues, my fans, family and my country,” he said in a statement.
“I will never be able to explain how much I regret the mistake I made at the promising start of my career. I disappointed my teammates and seniors who expected much better from me.”
A precocious talent, Amir graduated to play for Pakistan aged just 17 in 2009 and received widespread sympathy from across the cricketing world at the time of his ban. Partly because of his youth and naivety, the ICC earlier this year allowed him to return early to domestic cricket. He featured in Grade-II cricket in April, taking an impressive 22 wickets in four matches before getting injured.
Amir said he wanted to win over doubting fans through his performances.
“I am not sure if I can ever be truly forgiven but I hope to win your trust and love with my upcoming performances. I believe this will be the best way to redeem the past,” he said. “No matter how sorry I feel I can’t change the past. What I can do is start fresh and make a cleaner and brighter history, for myself and for Pakistan.”
Amir said he has set small goals for himself and is not targeting an early return to international cricket.
Before being banned, Amir had taken 51 wickets in 14 Tests and 25 in 15 one-day internationals. He also had 23 wickets in 18 Twenty20 matches.