Fast tracking Mohammad Amir back is not good for Pakistan cricket: Ramiz Raja

Former Pakistan cricketer-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja has questioned the intentions of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to fast track suspended pacer Mohammad Amir back into international cricket.

As a result of PCB’s strong lobbying, the ICC is about to make amendments to the anti-corruption laws that might allow Amir to play domestic cricket before the end of his suspension. Raja feels that bringing back someone who betratyed his team for the sake of money will disturb the team environment ahead of the all-important 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

"Why is the world so keen to see Mohammad Amir back? The managers of the game, who for whatever reason are trying to fast-track him into the very system that he had wronged, have obviously not experienced the pangs of betrayal and cheating that fixing causes. I have," Raja expressed in his column for ESPNCricinfo.

"It is the most awful and sickening feeling. When a bunch of rogues you share the dressing room with are fighting tooth and nail to lose a match, it kills your desire to play the game, and whips up a desire to kill them," the former player added.

The bowler was penalized for bowling deliberate no balls, a move that was architectured by the then captain Salman Butt and fellow pacer Mohammad Asif. All three were punished for the same that included jail terms which varied with respect to the level of involvement in spot-fixing.

"Someone needs to ask players if they want Amir back at all. After years of perseverance, Misbah-ul-Haq and his men have been able to salvage cricket and its image. Should they be exposed to a virus now?," Raja claims.

Amir was aware of his dirty work: Raja

Amir, who was only 18 at the time of his crime, was let away with minimal punishment as he claimed to be influenced by his seniors and the greed for money.

"The argument put across in Amir's favour is that his talent was compromised at a young age due to poor judgement and his naivety, and because he comes from a poor family. If that is the case, there are millions of other Pakistani youth who have had a tough start in life, and less than ideal upbringings.

"Does that give them a licence to use underhanded means and cheat to make a living? In fact, to quote an incident, I was approached to find out why Amir had turned down a more-than-decent offer made to him by an English county just a day before he was caught," claims Raja.

"During my conversation with him regarding the offer, I realised that because the offer was a few thousand pounds short of what he expected, he was willing to let go of an opportunity to play and establish himself at a renowned and historic county. I came to the conclusion that he was not, after all, so gullible and naive about money matters," the man who represented Pakistan in 57 Tests said.

“Don't get me wrong - I am all for rehabilitation and for finding ways to set a young man back on course in his life. But it just can't be in the very game that he sullied and brought disrepute to,” he concluded.

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