Amir is set to be the first player to benefit from the changes in the anti-corruption code
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved amendments to its anti-corruption code which will now allow banned players to play domestic cricket before their penalty ends.
However, in order to do this, banned players will have to meet certain requirements.
The changes in the anti-corruption code, which were ratified at the latest ICC board meeting in Dubai, will give the Pakistan trio of Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif some hope of reviving their international careers.
The trio were banned and imprisoned after they were found guilty of being involved in a spot-fixing scandal during a Test match against England at Lord’s in 2010. Butt received a 10-year ban with five years suspended, Asif got seven years with two years suspended and Amir was slapped with a five-year ban.
However, it seems that only Amir has a decent chance of restarting his international career since he is 22.
“The revised Code makes provision for a banned player to gain an early return to domestic cricket in certain circumstances,” ICC chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan said. “When exercising his discretionary powers in this regard, however, the Chairman of the ACSU will consider a number of factors, including the level of remorse shown by the player, his/her cooperation with the ACSU’s education programme and/or if the player has helped the ACSU by disclosing all information that, in turn, has helped it to enforce the Anti-Corruption Code in respect of others engaged in corruption conduct.”
Meanwhile, the ICC also approved other changes to its anti-corruption code, which includes giving them the power to suspend players in “exceptional circumstances”, such as when they are charged by the police.
Players will now also have the option of suspending themselves if they are charged under the anti-corruption code. Should this be the case, the ICC will take note of the voluntary suspension when handing down the ultimate suspension if the player is found guilty.