Lahore: Former cricket legend Imran Khan Thursday called the conviction of young Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir a big loss for Pakistan and international cricket as well.
Talking to media after reaching Pakistan from China, he said, “I always felt sorry for Amir,” said Khan, himself a great fast bowler. “He may have been influenced by the atmosphere around him, secondly he was the best young fast bowler and for the fact that he came out with a confession,” he added.
He also said that his deep hearted sympathies are with Aamer and his family. He also said that he has never seen such a talented bowler in his over two-decade cricket career.
He said that spot-fixing isn’t possible without involvement of the team skipper.
He said that the cricketers could have thought crimes pay in Pakistan since there is corruption in the government ledby President Asif Ali Zardari.
“In a way I also feel sorry for these cricketers because they are from Pakistan where there are massive corruption cases against president (Asif Ali Zardari) and they must have thought crime pays,” said Khan.
Khan said the punishments are a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket.
He said that he was hurt to hear the news of Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir being jailed for fixing parts of a Test match against England.
Pakistan former Test captain Butt, 27, received 30 months, fast bowler Asif, 28, received one year in jail and 19-year-old Amir was jailed for six months.
Imran Khan said it was painful to listen to the news.
“The verdict is a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket and from now on we should be ultra careful and, like we did in the past, should never allow the corruption to set in,” said Khan, who led Pakistan to their only World Cup win in 1992.
Khan criticised the previous cricket boards for sweeping the matter under the carpet.
“We should not hide behind the justification that it (fixing) happens in international cricket. It does happen, but Pakistan should set its house in order first and anyone involved should be punished,” said Khan.
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