ICC planning reintegration of banned players

Mohammad Amir should soon make a return to competitive cricket

ICC chief executive Dave Richardson has said that cricket’s governing body is planning to make changes to its anti-corruption code in order to allow players that are suspended a chance to play domestic cricket within a certain period before the end of their bans.

"The revised code is being discussed in the meetings and hopefully we could bring it to you in finality in the November meeting," Richardson told reporters in Dubai. "There is a provision now in the revised code which will allow a player who has been banned internationally to play domestic cricket a certain period up from his ban coming to an end."

Mohammad Amir could benefit

If the changes are ratified, it will be a particularly important development for Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who, along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, was banned for spot-fixing during the Lord’s Test of Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010 by an ICC tribunal. While Butt and Asif were slapped with 10-year and 7-year bans, respectively, Amir, who is still only 22, got away with a relatively lenient 5-year ban.

A five-man sub-committee was set up by the ICC after the 2013 annual conference with a view of reconsidering certain provisions of the anti-corruption code. The tribunal which was in charge of the 3 Pakistan players’ case had also suggested certain amendments to the code to the ICC in order to provide flexibility in regards to minimum sentences in exceptional circumstances.

While Amir has complied with all the conditions of his ban and should return to cricket in the imminent future, the cases of Butt and Asif are slightly more complex. Out of Butt's ten-year ban from any cricket-related activities, five were to be a suspended sentence on the caveat that he would make no further breach of the anti-corruption code and take part in an anti-corruption education programme organized by the PCB, likewise Asif for whom two out of his 7 years were a suspended sentence.

While Butt has shown interest in taking part in the rehabilitation programmes, Asif has made no contact with his home board.

Anti-corruption education programmes playing their part

Although the game is not devoid of threats as yet with bookies still looking to approach players who are vulnerable, Richardson said that the anti-corruption education programmes are doing their bit.

"Reasonably we are on top of the things and have things under control," Richardson said. "What has been very encouraging is the level of the support of every player. We went through a phase over the last five when players were very reluctant to come forward to share any information and we were operating in the dark.

"But now through the education the player gets lectures in every tournament and the fact is now we are getting the report of even the most innocent approaches that possibly could start something. So to me it's a very good sign. But the threat is not diminishing. In fact, you get the feeling you get these fixers are all around the world and they looking for every opportunity, finding new ways of reaching out to the players through social media as they are trying to stay ahead of us and we have to try and stay up and speak [about] what they are trying to do."