Spot-fixing case: Aamir may lodge protest with ICC over statement leakage

KARACHI - Suspended Pakistan pacer Mohammad Aamir intends to lodge a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the continued leakage of confidential information relating to the spot-fixing scandal.

Aamir’s lawyer Shahid Karim said the fresh leak of the statements given to the ICC on the case by Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis, captain Shahid Afridi and former security manager Javed Najam was damaging for his client.

“I have no idea who could have leaked out these documents but it does concern my client as he feels he is being portrayed negatively before hand,” the Daily Times quoted Karim, as saying.

“We intend to lodge a protest with the ICC on this issue and on how these confidential documents are coming in public,” he added.

Karim, however, said he did not think that the ICC anti-corruption tribunal that would hear the spot-fixing allegations case against his client and two other suspended Pakistan players Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif would be influenced by the leakage of documents.

“The tribunal, I am hopeful, will give a decision based on facts and only it can decide whether my client is guilty or not,” he said.

On Tuesday, a Pakistani newspaper had carried the statements made by Waqar, Afridi and Najam that suggested they also suspected something was wrong in the way Aamir and Asif bowled the no-balls during the fourth Test against England at Lord’s in August.

In their startling eye witness accounts to the ICC’s Code of Conduct Commission probing the spot-fixing case, the three officials confirmed ‘bookie’ Mazhar Mazhar’s frequent visits to the team hotel to meet the suspect players- Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif- and that he continued meeting them in and outside the hotel despite several warnings from the then security manager Najam.

“Whatever anyone had to say about the case they have said it, nothing can change that, but now the decision will only come through the tribunal,” Karim said.

He said a strong defense was being prepared for Aamir, and expressed hope that the tribunal outcome would be good for his client. (ANI)