PCB should have taken 'strong stand' on Mohammad Amir's return to competitive cricket, says former pacer Sarfraz Nawaz

Former Pakistan pace bowler Sarfraz Nawaz believes that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should have taken a 'strong stand' on banned pace bowler Mohammad Amir by not allowing him to return to competitive cricket.

Nawaz said that the PCB, rather than letting Amir come back, should have made him an example for others by keeping him away from the game as he had committed a 'wrong act' and didn't 'deserve to be back in the national squad', the Dawn reported. Asserting his opinion, Sarfraz further said that the 'maximum relief' that could have been given to Amir was to 'confine him to first-class cricket' and 'must not be allowed to represent Pakistan', the report added.

Also Read: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir gets early reprieve from spot-fixing ban

Sarfraz added that if he is taken in, it would set a very 'wrong precedent' in Pakistan cricket and others would be 'emboldened' and there was a possibility that 'corruption would gain ground in their cricket system'. Earlier, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had allowed Mohammad Amir to play in domestic matches.

Amir was handed a five year ban for his involvement in the infamous spot fixing scandal in a Test against England at Lord's in 2010.