Pakistan will forgive tainted trio if they win World T20 2016, says Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar on Sunday came in support of tainted trio -- Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir -- by indicating that the banned cricketers should be given a second chance.

New Delhi: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar on Sunday came out in support of tainted trio -- Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir -- stating that the banned cricketers should be given a second chance.

“They have made a mistake and have served their sentence so I can forgive them. I hope they have learnt their lesson, and now I really want them to go out there and prove once again that they are good people,” said Akhtar, according to Gulf News.

The trio was found guilty of spot-fixing in 2010 and has been serving five-year ban, which is about to expire on September 1.

The Rawalpindi Express also felt that the trio might strengthen the Pakistan squad and that the upcoming ICC Twenty20 World Cup in India would be a good chance for them to wash away their sins.

“The perfect apology for me would be if they went on and won the T20 World Cup. If they want to apologize don’t say it verbally, bring the World Cup back from India, or perform at the best of your ability and bring laurels back to Pakistan, and we will forgive you,” added the 40-year-old.