Mohammad Amir Ready for Return to Domestic Cricket
The Pakistan Cricket Board has said it had pushed for the ACU code to be revised in a bid to ensure that the 22-year-old Amir is allowed to play domestic cricket before his five-year ban ends in August 2015.
Pakistan's banned left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has welcomed the changes made in the ICC anti-corruption code and said he is ready for a quick return to domestic cricket. (Also read: Salman Butt hopeful of international comeback)
"I am already doing intensive training to maintain top fitness and I am confident that whenever the ICC gives the clearance I can get back into domestic cricket quickly," he told.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has said it had pushed for the ACU code to be revised in a bid to ensure that the 22-year-old Amir is allowed to play domestic cricket before his five-year ban ends in August 2015.
The PCB has maintained it had decided to plead Amir's case because when he was caught in the spot-fixing scandal he was just 18 and secondly he had been the first player to admit his guilt and present himself for rehabilitation.
"I am thankful to the PCB for making so much effort to plead my case and I can assure them and the ICC that whenever they need me for any anti-corruption drive I am available for them," Amir said.
The left-arm pacer, who was first suspended and then banned in September 2010 after the spot-fixing scandal broke out during Pakistan's tour of England, has also served jail time in the United Kingdom for the same offence.
"I know how difficult it has been for me to stay away from cricket for the last four years and I have learnt my lesson. But I never gave up hope of making a return after my ban ends next year," he said.
The left-arm pacer stated that he was confident he could make a quick comeback to domestic cricket whenever he got a chance.
"I consider myself fit now to play domestic cricket. I have been training hard and I know how to pace myself back into competitive cricket. Whenever I get a chance to get back to playing domestic cricket my top priority will be to make a comeback to the national team with my performances," he said.
The PCB is expected to send a request to the ICC ACU chief within 10 days to give permission to Amir to play domestic cricket before his ban ends.
The youngster made it clear that he had had no contact with the two other banned players Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif.