PCB urges Aamir to appeal to ICC to reduce ban on 'humanitarian' grounds

Islamabad -  Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf has said banned pacer Mohammad Aamir could make an early return to international cricket if he appeals to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider his five-year ban on humanitarian grounds.

"I think if Aamir goes to the ICC and appeals to them after some time, he might get a sympathetic hearing and the ban period could be reduced," the Daily Times quoted Ashraf, as saying.

The 19-year-old Pakistani pacer has served his time in jail for his role in the spot-fixing scandal that hit Pakistan cricket on the tour of England in 2010.

He returned home earlier this year after being released from a young offenders' institution where he spent three months after a court ruling given in October last year.

But, Aamir still has to complete a five-year ban imposed on him by the ICC's anti-corruption tribunal early last year.

Aamir, along with teammates Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, were banned from the game by the ICC after the spot-fixing allegations broke out in England.

Ashraf said the PCB would never stand by those players involved in corruption but added that in Aamir's case there was sympathy for him, even in the ICC, because of his young age.

"We have, as per the ICC anti-corruption requirements, appointed a psychologist to have counselling sessions with Aamir as part of his reform programme that is necessary under ICC regulations," Ashraf said.

"We are hoping that Aamir would have learnt his lesson from what happened to him. He has served his time in jail. As far as his ban is concerned he has to appeal to the ICC directly and plead to them to review his five year ban period," he added.