PCB prepares special case to secure Amir’s visa

LAHORE: Pakistan’s cricket chiefs are hoping that their England counterparts will back their efforts to obtain a British visa for fast bowler Mohammad Amir ahead of Pakistan’s tour of England which begins late next month.

According to reports, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing a special case to make sure that Amir is not denied a British visa because of the fact that he has served time in a UK jail.

According to reports, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan is in touch with top officials of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The PCB officials have also consulted with their legal advisors in this regard.

A report said that PCB is very keen to ensure that Amir gets a visa to travel to England for the full series but they are aware of the hurdles in the way of this happening due to the strict immigration laws of the United Kingdom.

Under UK’s immigration laws a person who has been convicted and served time in a UK jail or been deported cannot be issued a visa at least until 10 years after his sentencing.

According to reports, PCB has given up hope on trying to get visas for Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif but are hopeful that given Amir’s background in the spot-fixing case and his age when it happened in 2010 they can get some relaxation for him.

Butt, Asif and Amir were all found guilty of spot fixing during the fourth Test against England at Lords in August, 2010 and later banned for a minimum of five-years by the International Cricket Council.

Since the crime took place in the UK the trio were later also tried in a crown court and served varying times in jail before returning to Pakistan.

But Amir because of his age got a relaxation in his ban from the ICC to resume playing cricket before the ban expired last September but the same was not given to Butt and Asif. A report said that the PCB had to file visa applications for the England on May 12 and all documentation was ready but in all probability a separate case to secure a visa for Amir would be filed by the board.

Amir has been included in the training camp being set up for the tour to England which does not include Asif or Butt who was the Pakistan captain when the spot-fixing scandal took place in England.