ICC denies allowing Aamir to play domestic cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has dismissed media reports in Pakistan that banned left arm pacer, Muhammad Aamir had been allowed to resume playing domestic cricket by them.

Reports have been circulating in the Pakistan media that the ICC four-member committee formed to look into his ban and case had allowed him to play domestic cricket.

But a ICC spokesman said first of all no permission had been given to Aamir to play domestic cricket or any cricket of any sort and secondly that any decision relating to his case could only be taken by the ICC Executive Board.

"Any decision to give any sort of relaxation to Aamir will only be made by the ICC Board. The four-man committee comprising Giles Clarke, Wally Edwards, Imran Khawaja and Keith Oliver will present its recommendations to the ICC Board, which will review these before making any decision. Until such time, Aamir will remain suspended from all cricket activities," the spokesman said.

According to media reports, the ICC four-member committee headed by Clarke had recommended that Aamir be allowed to play domestic cricket after PCB Chairman, Najam Sethi pleaded Aamir's case at the last ICC meetings in London.

But the spokesman said any reports about the ICC even allowing Aamir to use PCB facilities is incorrect.

The next ICC Board meeting is scheduled in October but it is not necessary any decision on Aamir will be made at the meeting.

Sources in the PCB say that Sethi had pleaded with the ICC Board members to take Aamir's age, his confession to spot fixing and that he had already served two and half years of his five year ban and also spent time in jail, into consideration while reviewing his case.

"The PCB's main thrust is that Aamir be allowed to start using PCB facilities so that he can start training under proper supervision and also be put on a one year watch and rehabilitation program before his ban ends in 2015," one source said.

Aamir along with Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif was banned for a minimum of five years by an anti-corruption panel of the ICC in early 2011 for spot fixing in the fourth test against England at Lords in 2010.