Cricket Buzz: Banned cricketers Malik, Aamir back prison terms for fixers

Pakistan's banned cricketers, Salim Malik and Muhammad Aamir have backed moves by New Zealand's government to enforce prison sentences for players found guilty of spot or match fixing.

Malik, who is serving a life ban for match fixing and Aamir who is in the fourth year of a five year ban for spot fixing, said prison terms would help curb the menace of corruption.

"I think it is a good move by New Zealand's government and other cricket playing nations should also follow it," Malik, who has pleaded innocence since being banned in 2000, told Reuters.

"I know how much I have suffered because of this match fixing stigma. I think it is time similar law was also enacted in Pakistan so that cricket players can be clean of such allegations once and for all," Malik said.

Aamir, 22, was banned for spot fixing in 2010 and believes the threat of going to prison would deter players from being tempted to get involved with match fixing.

"It is a reality that some people try to lure players down the wrong path," he said on the Geo Super channel. "I have experienced it.

"I think such laws will definitely make players think twice about what they are doing. What I did was wrong and it has been hard going without cricket for all these years.

"But I think more anti-corruption steps are required to clean up the sport," he said.

Aamir also adviced the PCB to set up a committee of senior players who could guide young players at domestic and international level and educate them about the pitfalls of modern day cricket.

The chief operating officer of the PCB, Subhan Ahmad said Pakistan supported New Zealand's move to curb fixing in sports.

The New Zealand government decided to move the Crimes (Match-fixing) Amendment Bill 2014, which entails a seven-year punishment if found guilty of match-fixing after the recent scandal where former New Zealand batsman, Lou Vincent confessed to indulging in spot fixing.

Pakistan has been hit the hardest by fixing scandals with four of their current players including Aamir, Muhammad Asif, former captain Salman Butt and leg spinner Danish Kaneria all banned for fixing in the last four years.

Spinner Nathan Lyon has been recalled to Australia's squad for the trip to Zimbabwe after two years out of one-day international cricket but there was no place for in-form top order batsman Phil Hughes.

Hughes had pressed his case for a recall last week by setting a new Australian record for a 'List A' match with a brilliant unbeaten 202 against South Africa in a quadrangular one-day A team series in Darwin.

With opener David Warner having decided to skip the tour to remain in Australia for the birth of his first child, Hughes had hoped his hot form might have earned him a call-up.

"We would have loved to pick Phillip but it's quite difficult to find the spot for him with a strong batting line-up," new head selector Rod Marsh said in a news release.

"He was in superb form during the recent Australia A one-day matches, including a stand-out double-century, and (we) will certainly be continuing to watch him closely."

Lyon was preferred to Xavier Doherty as the specialist spinner in the 14-man party and looks set to represent his country in a limited overs match for the first time since March 2012, when he played both of his ODIs.

All-rounders Ben Cutting and Mitchell Marsh, as well as seamer Kane Richardson, were all included in the squad as Australia looks to broaden its playing stocks ahead of next year's World Cup, which it is hosting with New Zealand.

Australia will face Zimbabwe and South Africa in a triangular series from August 25 on their first trip to the southern African country in a decade.

Squad: Michael Clarke (captain), George Bailey, Ben Cutting, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Shane Watson.