Mohammad Amir's age of 18 may help him escape stringent punishment such as a life ban in case he is found guilty of spot-fixing allegations,

Amir's age could save him from severe punishment: ICC
Updated at: 1832 PST, Monday, September 06, 2010


LONDON: Mohammad Amir's age of 18 may help him escape stringent punishment such as a life ban in case he is found guilty of spot-fixing allegations, ICC's CEO Haroon Lorgat has hinted.

"In my own honest personal view, yes, I think age would come into account in these matters. But that is something the independent tribunal will have to decide upon," Lorgat said.

The 18-year-old, who is the youngest player to take 50 Test wickets, has had his promising career tarnished by allegations that he took bribes from a bookie to send down deliberate no balls during the Lord's Test against England last month.

Although Hameed has said that he was tricked into making the statements by the undercover reporter, Lorgat said the batsman's statements were disappointing.

"I feel extreme disappointment because we've got a code in place that obliges players to disclose any sort of information like this," he said.

Lorgat said he could understand the average fan's disillusionment with the game given the damaging revelations that are coming out every alternate day.

"Of course I do. We all know we've got to get to the bottom of this, and everyone in cricket will have to do everything they can to eradicate it from the game," he said.