Mohammad Amir played in an unofficial club match: Pakistan Cricket Board
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has clarified that after holding a thorough investigation, it has been revealed that the club match, in which the suspended http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 pacer Mohammad Amir took part in, was an unofficial event and
was not sanctioned by the Board or its affiliated unit in Rawalpindi. The match was played between Pakistan Army and Rawalpindi.
The PCB also disclosed that it has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) about their findings regarding the incident. A press release by the PCB stated, “PCB has probed the alleged participation of suspended cricketer
Mohammad Amir in a match in Rawalpindi and submitted a report to the ICC on the matter. The match that Amir bowled in was an unofficial match between two club sides that are not registered with the Rawalpindi Cricket Association.”
Pakistan’s cricketing governing body also clarified that no official from the PCB was present on the site at the time the incident took place, ensuring the ICC that the Board had nothing to do with the organization of the event.
It was also clarified that Amir was not listed as a player for any team. “It was also found that no PCB official was present at the venue when the player took part in the game. Furthermore, the team sheets prepared prior to the
match did not contain Mohammad Aamer's name nor was his name was listed with any team participating in the tournament. This game was not part of any official tournament,” it stated.
The press release further stated, “PCB has again advised all regional bodies to ensure strict compliance of the ICC directives regarding the status of the three suspended players.”
Amir was seen bowling a few overs from Pakistan Army’s side, which caused alarm in the PCB and the ICC because the player has been barred from taking part in any cricket-related activity organized by the PCB or its regional bodies.
Initially, it was not clear to the PCB who had sanctioned the match. The Board ordered an immediate inquiry into the matter and also sent a show cause notice to the spot-fixing tainted Amir. Yesterday, the ICC also took notice
of the situation and demanded an explanation from the PCB about the whole debacle.
However, Amir expressed his regret for taking part in the practice match and pleaded that he was not aware of the extent of his ban. He further clarified that the match was a privately organized event and was not sanctioned by
the PCB.
“It was just a friendly game and was not a PCB-organised event. If it is an offence then it happened due to sheer misunderstanding as I did not intend to violate the order,” Amir told newsmen.
The pace sensation is under ICC’s suspension, which bars him from taking part in any international or domestic cricket event. The player, along with fellow pacer Mohammad Asif and opening batsman Salman Butt, was suspended by the
ICC last September for an alleged involvement in spot-fixing in Lord’s Test against England.
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