Banned Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir is poised to make an early return to domestic cricket
Friday 27 June 2014 16:39, UK
Disgraced Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir is on course for a return to domestic cricket before his five-year ban for spot-fixing is fully served.
Amir was slapped with a worldwide suspension from all cricket after pleading guilty to charges relating to a series of deliberate no-balls in the 2010 Lord's Test against England.
Earlier that summer the prodigiously talented swing bowler had become the youngest in Test history to take 50 wickets.
The 22-year-old's worldwide ban is not due to finish until September 2015 but the Pakistan Cricket Board is confident it will be allowed to get him back in action locally before then.
It has been petitioning the International Cricket Council to review its anti-corruption code to include staggered returns for banned cricketers and, following this week's annual meeting in Melbourne, believes it is making inroads.
In a statement, the Pakistan board said: "The work on the drafting of the new ICC anti-corruption code has substantially progressed with a draft clause inserted into the code permitting a banned player to be involved in domestic matches prior to the end of his ban period.
"The anti-corruption code will now be placed before the (ICC) board for approval soon after which the PCB will be in a position to make an application for Mohammad Amir.
"The progress on ICC amendments in ICC's anti-corruption code is very encouraging and is yet another step closer to the early entry of Mohammad Amir in cricket."
