“Suspension by ICC without showing any worthwhile evidence is ‘injustice’”: Aamir

KARACHI - Pakistan pacer Muhammad Aamir- one of the tainted trio implicated in the spot-fixing scandal- has described his suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as an ‘injustice’.

“Suspending us without showing any worthwhile evidence and then retaining that suspension is injustice,” the Daily Times quoted Aamir, as saying to a TV channel.

Aamir, along with former Test captain Salman Butt and pace bowler Muhammad Asif, was provisionally suspended by the ICC on September 2 after a British tabloid carried a report alleging bookie Mazhar Majeed of bribing them to spot-fix in the fourth Test against England at Lord’s.he trio had appealed to the ICC against their suspensions, with Asif later withdrawing his appeal. Salman and Aamir appeared before a one-man appellate tribunal in Dubai last month, which dismissed their appeals.

Aamir said that the experience of appearing before the appellate tribunal had been a hugely disappointing one. “No evidence was shown to us. Our lawyers gave strong arguments in favour of lifting the suspensions, but they (ICC) ignored it,” he added.

He claimed that under the ICC’s anti-corruption regulations, if the game’s governing body fails to produce any evidence against the trio by next month, their suspensions would be removed automatically.

The 19-year-old left-arm pacer said it was a frustrating wait for the trio, as it had been over two months since the ICC had enforced the suspension on them but had failed so far in setting a date for the full hearing.

Aamir also felt that the PCB, after supporting the players initially, had gone on the backfoot, but expressed his confidence that he would be cleared before the 2011 World Cup.

“Missing the World Cup would be a disaster for someone like me. But I know I am innocent and my conscience is clear and my lawyers are also working hard on my case. The ICC has to decide before the World Cup on our case. That is why I feel I will be able to play in the tournament,” Aamer said.

The promising pacer said that even though he did not play a single competitive game since the suspension, he was carrying out his individual training on a daily basis. “I want to be ready when the time comes for my comeback,” Aamir said.

“I have had a lot of good things to see in my cricketing career. Now I am going through this bad phase but one has to cope with both situations and I am doing that. I am just grateful that my family and friends are supporting me a lot,” he added. (ANI)