Recently, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent a letter to
International Cricket Council (ICC), international cricket’s governing body to
review the conditions of Mohammad Amir’s spot-fixing ban. As per the revised
anti-corruption code, banned players could be allowed to return to domestic
cricket before the end of their penalty if they meet certain criteria.
According to PCB, Amir has fulfilled all the criteria and
thus qualifies for reintegration.
Mohammad Amir was handed a five-year ban from the game after
being found guilty of bowling no-balls on demand during the Lord’s Test against
England in 2010.
His teammates, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt were also handed bans. A year
later, a London court handed out
jailed terms to the three players and their agent.
As a nation, Pakistan
is wading through troubled waters and it is their sportsmen who, generally give
them joy and pleasure to overcome the depressive situations. But this saga had
hurt the passionate Pakistani cricket followers badly. Though Asif and Butt
received no sympathy, many empathized with Amir simply because of his age and
talent.
After ICC’s revised anti-corruption code, it seems that
Mohammad Amir will be able to rekindle his international career. But few people
don’t feel that Mohammad Amir should be allowed to feature in the national team
again. According to them, his presence will pollute the dressing room
environment and kill the desire to play the game.
Forgiveness is a trait that needs to be implemented in Amir’s
case
I can realize those people’s anger regarding Amir’s crime
and I endorse their feelings. But I also believe that forgiveness is a great
virtue and a beautiful trait that cannot be practiced by all. It is one such
character which is easier to preach than to practice. It requires a great
magnanimity to forgive whether that person is a friend or an enemy and like
Mahatma Gandhi said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute
of the strong“
I agree that Amir had committed a crime and such an act
tarnished the image of his nation and defamed the gentleman’s game, but one
must not forget how naive and immature Amir was during that time. He was just a
kid who came from a poor family and got excited by sudden fame and cash. He
shook hands with the wrong people and thus, lost his way. For a kid like Amir,
who hails from a poor family, such mistakes are not surprising and for which
rather than leaving such kids in the cold, we must help them to rectify
themselves.
Mohammad Amir deserves a second chance and it’s the duty of
his teammates, cricket board and fans to welcome him and help him to flourish
further.
As an optimistic person, I don’t think that his presence
will diminish the desire to win or hamper the environment of the dressing room.
But, the presence of a mercurial talent like Amir will act as a motivating
factor. Not only Pakistan
cricket, but world cricket also needs a talent like Amir. Talents like Mohammad
Amir are born once in a few years and it’s hard to ignore such a prodigy.
Mohammad Amir has learnt from his mistakes
Years of struggle and trying circumstances have changed Amir
a lot. He has tried his best to correct himself. Two years back in an interview
Amir said, “I am cautious about trusting people. Just because a person appears
to be nice doesn’t mean he is a good friend. He is obviously not if he pulls
you down when he sinks himself”.
He continued, “There are situations in everyone’s life when
one has to decide quickly about what to do. Choose the right way and forget
about what will happen next because eventually it won’t be as bad as if you
chose the wrong way”.
Shouldn’t Amir be given another opportunity? If Italy ’s
Paolo Rossi and West Indian Marlon Samuels can be forgiven, then why not Amir?
You have to forgive Mohammad Amir and if you can’t forgive
him then the words of George Herber echo in my ears, “He that cannot forgive
others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever
reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven”.
Note: This article has been published in Sportskeeda on 25/11/2014 Why Mohammad Amir deserves a second chance?
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
Faisal Caesar
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