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Amir cleared to return in Pakistan

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Mohammad Amir has been cleared for an early return to domestic cricket in Pakistan by the International Cricket Council.

Amir, 22, was jailed and banned from the sport for five years for his part in spot-fixing during his country's 2010 tour of England.

The prodigiously talented seam bowler was not due to play again until September 2.

But after a meeting of the ICC board in Dubai, it has been announced that the governing body, the Pakistan Cricket Board, and anti-corruption chief Sir Ronnie Flanagan had approved his domestic availability with immediate effect.

An ICC statement read: "The ACSU chairman, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, with the prior approval of the ICC Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board, has exercised his discretion to allow Mohammad Amir to return to domestic cricket played under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board with immediate effect.

Mohammad Amir last played competitive cricket in the England-versus-Pakistan Test series of 2010 when he was 18 years old

"Amir's five-year ban is scheduled to expire on 2 September 2015. The ACSU chairman had exercised the powers vested in him under Article 6.8 of the ICC anti-corruption code after he was satisfied that Amir had cooperated with the ACSU by fully disclosing his part in the matters that led to his disqualification, admitting his guilt, showing remorse and cooperating with the unit's ongoing investigations and by recording messages for the ACSU education sessions."

In the aftermath of the spot-fixing scandal, Amir distinguished himself from his co-conspirators Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt by admitting his guilt and showing remorse.

Asif and Butt repeatedly fought charges before being found guilty at Southwark Crown Court. The latter pair were also jailed, with Asif banned from cricket for seven years (two suspended) and Butt 10 years (five suspended).

With Pakistan's first-class season already at an end and the limited-overs President's Cup finishing early next month, Amir may have to wait some time for his first competitive cricket.

But the end of his ban allows him to make a full return to training and net practice, possibly overseen by the PCB, and even club cricket should the opportunity arise.

It also increases his prospects of an international recall against England.

They are due to take on Pakistan in a three-format tour of the United Arab Emirates in October, leaving Amir plenty of time to prove himself ready for selection.


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