It was quite an effort by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to vouch for a player, who not only corrupted the game of cricket, but also belonged to a country where corrupting the game was never a new phenomenon.
After a round of talks and substantial assurances by the PCB that Mohammad Amir is now a clean soul, the International Cricket Council (ICC) today allowed the 22-year-old left-arm fast bowler to resume playing domestic cricket with immediate effect.
Amir had been sentenced to six months in prison in England for bowling intentional no-balls at prearranged times during a match against England at Lord’s in August 2010.
The development was hard for many to digest and the Twitterati exploded in condemnation. They were joined by former cricketing greats and board officials.
“He betrayed the nation,” one die-hard cricket fan said on television.
“He must never play cricket,” was the opinion of another patriotic fellow countrymen.
“He is a criminal,” said a much-respected former board official.
The buzz was never ending.
The reaction to Amir’s domestic return is quite extraordinary. It is worth noting that Amir is not the first man to have been involved in corrupt practices. And by saying that, I do not endorse his actions.
Also read: Amir should not be allowed to return, says Tauqir Zia
Rashid Latif, former captain and wicketkeeper, was the first cricketer to blow the whistle on match-fixing during Pakistan's tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe in 1995, where he had accused Salim Malik and other team-mates of wrongdoing.
Latif’s allegations prompted the Pakistan government to initiate a probe into it which saw Salim Malik and Ata-ur-Rehman getting banned for life, while Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar, Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamamul Haq and Akram Raza received fines.
A detailed report by Justice Malik Qayyum in this regard was a reflection of how corrupt practices were a tradition in Pakistan’s cricket.
But sadly, Justice Qayyum’s report had never been implemented in its entirety to clear Pakistan’s cricket of corruption once and for all.
Back in 2011, Cricket Australia’s chief executive James Sutherland had said that PCB did not implement all steps recommended by Justice Qayyum. Sutherland’s statement had come a year after spot-fixing episode was exposed.
The spot-fixing scandal would not have happened in England last year had the PCB implemented the recommendations put forward Justice Qayyum, Sutherland had said. The former PCB chairman Tauqir Zia responded by criticising Sutherland’s remarks and claimed that he had implemented Justice Qayyum’s report in its letter and spirit.
Even if we take the former PCB chief’s word for it, the truth is that match-fixing was never an isolated incident and corrupt practices had deep roots. It was happening right under the nose of the PCB itself.
Going back to this era is by no means a justification to what Amir did. It is to stress that by not allowing him to play the game ever again will not end corruption.
Instead, the board’s approach to conduct rehabilitation, educate and clean the game right to the lower levels is what will curb or put an end to malpractices.
Cleaning the game of corruption is a gradual process. And with Amir completing his punishment, it is, by all means, the best way to go about it.
Also read: Amir vows to be better human, and cricketer
Let’s ask ourselves, how will Amir's return, after a complete rehab process, make things any worse?
I am not in defence of what Amir did back in the world’s historic playing field in Lord’s, but I would only support his return if his performance merits it.
And let’s be not fooled by assumptions and opinions of how his presence will affect the atmosphere of the dressing room.
Do you want to know what players would feel like with Amir in their ranks?
The feeling would be exactly the same like it was in the late 90s when many – who are now considered as “national heroes” – were convicted for corruption in Justice Malik Qayyum’s report.
Let’s not take names here, but everyone is indeed proud of their services to the country and to this gentleman’s game. Are they not?
We, as a society, need to realise that justice has been done. Amir was declared guilty and subsequently completed his jail sentence and a five-year suspension from every sort of cricket as well. Not only that, Amir has been also a regular participant of the board’s rehabilitation programs and training sessions to educate younger cricketers to stay away from corruption.
Also read: A fan’s letter to Mohammad Amir
Why are most of his countrymen not ready to accept him back? Just because Amir gives the impression of being 'clever' and has sought the help of a former board chairman?
He has promised that he will not disappoint the nation and will try to allay the concerns of the fans with his behaviour and performance on the field.
That's all we should be worried about for now.