In response to fast bowler Mohammad Amir’s return to the national cricket team, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has reiterated his stance of “no forgiveness” for those involved in match-fixing scandals.
Speaking on a private news channel, Raja expressed his uncompromising view, stating, “My opinion on this is very simple. While sympathy may exist for him [Amir], in my book there is no forgiveness. If God forbid my son was to engage in such actions, I would disown him.”
Amir recently reversed his decision to retire from international cricket, joining the Pakistani squad in its ongoing physical fitness camp at Pakistan Army’s Kakul facility. This decision has reignited debates surrounding his past involvement in spot-fixing.
Reflecting on his experience as a commentator during the spot-fixing scandal, Raja recalled the backlash he faced, saying, “I remember the time when these players did fixing because I was doing commentary at Lord’s [cricket ground]. People hated me because I was being identified with the fixers, in their opinion, and I can never forget the criticism we faced on media.”
Amir, along with teammates Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt, was banned from international cricket for five years by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2010 due to their involvement in a spot-fixing case. Amir also served a six-month custodial sentence in young offenders institutes in Feltham and Dorset.
Despite his past controversies, Amir made a comeback in 2016 and contributed to Pakistan’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. The left-arm pacer has since played in 6 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20s for Pakistan, including memorable performances in major tournaments.
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