Amir: Match-fixing must be criminal offence
Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir insisted match- and spot-fixing be legally viewed as criminal offences.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir insisted match- and spot-fixing be legally viewed as criminal offences.
Amir, alongside fellow seamer Mohammad Asif and ex-captain Salman Butt, were banned for deliberately bowling no-balls during a Test against England in 2010.
"I don't know what powers or authority the ICC has but definitely it needs to make fixing of matches a criminal offence and there should be jail sentences for those involved in this racket," said Amir.
"It can be termed as invasion of privacy but the biggest thing they must do is to keep track of all calls made and received on phones of players and officials involved in a bilateral series or tournament.
"The ICC must keep track and monitor numbers of all potential and known bookmakers, who lure players into the fixing racket. And anyone found guilty must face criminal charges."
Left-armer Amir clinched 51 wickets in 14 matches before a promising career was stifled by 2010's misgivings. He has since participated in the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption campaign.
"Someone who has made up his mind to do something wrong will not be affected by these programs. The point is that if players know anyone who tries to corrupt them will face proper criminal charges they will be quick to report any approach or offer or unusual activity to the ICC anti-corruption and security unit officers or their team management," he added.
"One day I was creating a world record and next day I was facing spot-fixing charges. I have been through tough times and have learnt from them. The biggest lesson has been that there is enough legal money to be made from cricket and it is best for players to avoid negative and bad company."
Latest
-
NewsDanny Briggs stars as Warwickshire take edge in title push against Somerset
Ex-Hampshire ace Danny Briggs could have helped take the title away from his old club.
-
NewsEngland will carefully manage ‘warrior’ Katherine Brunt, Heather Knight assures
Brunt, 36, almost single-handedly made a game of the third ODI against New Zealand on Tuesday.
-
NewsThe MCC replaces the word ‘batsman’ with ‘batter’ in the laws of cricket
2017 Wotld Cup winner Alex Hartley has suggested ‘nightwatcher’ should replace ‘nightwatchman’ and ‘third’ should be used instead of ‘third man’.
-
NewsHeather Knight accepts and understands Pakistan tour decision
The England Women captain says the decision was taken out of the team’s hands.
-
NewsNew Zealand keep series alive with three-wicket victory at Leicester
Katherine Brunt impressed for England but the hosts were beaten.
-
NewsBowlers shine as Lancashire bid to land Championship title
Hampshire were dismissed for 143 at Aigburth.
-
NewsECB acted alone in cancelling tour, says Britain’s high commissioner to Pakistan
Christian Turner appeared to distance the political establishment from the decision and insisting he supported the trip.
-
NewsRamiz Raja fears ‘West versus rest’ split in international cricket
The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman was responding to the cancellation of England’s tour next month.
-
NewsSecurity around England Women v NZ third ODI raised after ‘threatening email’
The game, at Leicestershire’s Uptonsteel County Ground, is due to go ahead as planned with a 1pm start.
-
NewsWhat was the safety issue and how has England’s decision gone down in Pakistan?
The ECB has pulled its men’s and women’s teams out of next month’s planned white-ball tour of Pakistan.