PCB uses Islamic teachings to advocate Mohammad Amir's international return

Mohammad Amir, the left-arm fast bowling all-rounder from Pakistan, has been in news from the start of his career. Making his international debut aged 17 and impressing everyone with his skills. His rise to the top and then a steep fall due to involvement in a spot-fixing case alongside two other countrymen has all been cherished and banished respectively by the fans and media.

After serving a five-year exile from international cricket as punishment for his crimes, Amir returned to play domestic cricket in January and has been available for national selection from September. His potential return has made him the most debated player of 2015.

Alongside his strong domestic performances since his return, Mohammad Amir has the Pakistan Cricket Board backing him, as stated earlier. Even though, Mohammad Hafeez publicly and many other cricketers silently have vowed to not share the same dressing room with Mohammad Amir.

In another attempt PCB has today released an image-building Press Release advocating his return to international cricket.

The PR contained 8-points describing how poor background Amir had before cricket, a 19-year old innocent trapped by his captain, leniency of international courts & the ICC for Amir and how previously convicted cricketers like Marlon Samuels and Hershelle Gibbs made a successful return to cricket. But the highlight of the PR was PCB’s reply to current and ex-cricketers against the return of Mohammad Amir: “We are reminding them that even Islam calls for forgiveness in such cases.”

This comes from a Chairman who criticized the implementation of Islam by cricketers when Inzamam-ul-Haq was actively preaching it on the grounds in 2007. Also the Chairman, from time to time, has said that religion (Islam) is a private matter of every cricketer.

Another notable point is that the first line of the PR says that Amir had admitted his guilt from the very first day, which in itself is not true. Mohammad Amir’s lawyers tried their level best to deal away the suspension and even appealed against the ICC verdict.

It wasn’t until September 15, 2011, that Amir finally admitted to have deliberately bowled the “No-Balls” – one year after he was banned. Thus, PCB’s stiff backing is clearly out of course and favoritism.