ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat says he feels “sad” for disgraced Pakistan pacer Mohammad Aamir but asserted that the bowler who is serving a five-year ban for spot-fixing should focus on his rehabilitation instead of looking for ways to get the sanction reduced.
Aamir, who returned to Pakistan after serving half of a six-month sentence, said he was manipulated by his then skipper Salman Butt.
The 19-year-old bowler does not intend to seek a relaxation to the ICC ban on him and Lorgat said that is the way to go for the youngster who should be focussed on his rehabilitation.
“I would prefer that the starting point should not be about whether we (ICC) could reduce the sentence,” Lorgat told ’ESPNcricinfo’
“Let that (the reduction of the ban) be the end result of a process of rehabilitation since he has now come clean, if that is indeed the case. Part of the sanction he received from the ICC tribunal was to educate himself and for him to educate others. So let us do all the necessary building blocks before we get to a point where anyone could ask, ‘Does he now deserve a review?’” he explained.
Lorgat said had Aamir pleaded guilty in front of the ICC tribunal as well, he could have got a lighter punishment.
“I find it very unfortunate for Mohammad Aamir. We did provide him with lots of opportunities,” Lorgat said.
“The tribunal might have looked at it differently and who knows what decision they could have come to on sanction. It could have been a different story. I am sad for him.”
Lorgat advised Aamir to “do all the right things” from now on.
“Come into the education process and don’t just give up the game. Retain your faith in the future. He must be prepared to tell his story and explain to others what they need to be careful of,” Lorgat said.
“If Mohammad Aamir stands up and delivers a message of caution about this murky world, people are going to sit up and listen. That is one example of rehabilitation.”
