Amir needs rehabilitation not punishment: Atherton

TAUNTON - Former England captain Michael Atherton feels 18-year-old Mohammad Amir, one of the three Pakistani cricketers named in spot-fixing in the fourth Test against England at Lords, should be helped with rehabilitation instead of being banned for life if found guilty.

“Admittedly, if these allegations are proven accurate, to reprieve Amir at the expense of anyone else involved would be arbitrary and, in a sense, unfair. It would give succour to those who argue - rightly - that the events of the past few days are a direct consequence of a failure to act on the excesses of the past.

“Yet that would be to ignore the obvious: that Amir is a potent symbol right now, of what was, what is and what might be,” wrote Atherton in his column in for The Times on Tuesday.

“He should not be punished as an example to the rest, as everyone seems to suggest, rather he should be made aware of the issues, educated, rehabilitate and held up as an example of what can be achieved.

“Amir’s rehabilitation should be at the heart of the cleansing of Pakistan cricket. The brilliant young bowler is not the cause of the problem but the most tragic consequence of it,” stressed Atherton.