ICC to decide on Amir using PCB`s training facilities

Karachi: The five-member ICC sub-committee in all likelihood will review whether certain clauses incorporated in Mohammed Amir`s five-year ban for indulging in spot-fixing can be relaxed in order to allow the talented paceman opportunity to use PCB`s training facilities.

"The ICC, during the annual conference week, constituted a five-member committee that will review and recommend amendments to the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, and on recommendation from the PCB, will also provide its suggestions to the ICC board on the ban related to Mohammad Amir," a PCB spokesman said. The ICC is unwilling to reveal the names of those in the sub-committee. Regardless of the recommendation from the committee, Amir will not be able to play any kind of club, domestic, or international cricket and will not train with the national team. The only significant allowance that could be made is that he regains access to the training facilities offered by the PCB. According to sources, PCB made the request to the ICC only because Amir had complied with conditions of the ban: not committing any further breach of the anti-corruption code and undergoing the ICC`s educational and rehabilitation programme. Amir will be available for national selection from September 3, 2015, and the PCB sought the relaxation of some terms so that he could be ready to play as soon as his ban ends, rather than spend more months in training. Salman Butt, the Pakistan captain who was banned for ten years by the ICC on charges of spot-fixing during the Lord`s Test in 2010, had made a similar request in a personal capacity two days before the ICC`s annual conference. His case, however, was not accepted as it was believed that Butt had not fully complied with the ICC`s conditions. Butt had recently taken the first step in his rehabilitation by publicly admitting to and apologizing for his part in the spot-fixing scandal. He also indicated his willingness to participate in the PCB and ICC`s rehabilitation programmes. Five out of Butt`s ten-year ban from any cricketing activities were to be a suspended sentence on condition that he would commit no further breach of the anti-corruption code and participate in a PCB-controlled anti-corruption education programme. Of the three players banned by the ICC before the criminal trial began in London - fast bowler Mohammad Asif being the third - only Amir had pleaded guilty to the charges at the Southwark Crown Court. Both Butt and Asif had pleaded not guilty and appealed their bans at the Court of Arbitration in Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. PTI