Lahore, Sept 17(ANI): Banned Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir has reportedly admitted to his involvement in last year's spot-fixing scandal before a court in England.
The corruption charges relate to Pakistan's Test match against England at Lord's last year, when a British tabloid claimed that Aamir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif had colluded in a spot-fixing scam organised by British-based agent Mazhar Majeed.
Majeed has also reportedly confessed to his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal before the court.
However, the two other accused- the then Pakistan captain Salman Butt and medium-fast bowler Mohammad Asif- have stuck to their earlier stand that they are innocent and never signed any fixing deal with Majeed, the Dawn quoted sources, as saying.
According to Pakistani television channels, it was unclear whether Amir and Majeed had changed their earlier statements under any pressure, or done it in order to become approvers in the case.
Soon after the nasty scandal was exposed, Amir was advised by some quarters to become an approver in the case, in order to get some relief on the punishment decreed by the International Cricket Council, the paper said.
However, Amir did not follow the advice at that time since he felt his life could be in danger if he opted to become an approver, it added.
Amir's confession had surprised everyone present in the court since the young fast bowler had stuck to his original statement during the previous four hearings, the sources were quoted as saying.
Sources close to Butt and Asif said that the two players were of the opinion that Amir's somersault on Friday could earn him a similar fate met by former fast bowler Ata-ur-Rehman during the Justice Qayyum inquiry into match-fixing in 1999-2000, the paper said.
Ata, who changed his statement on more than one occasions, was dished out a life ban besides being charged with perjury by the court.
The spot-fixing inquiry is being handled by the Scotland Yard, which had filed the case before a court in England after completing its investigation.
In February, Salman was banned for ten years with a five-year suspended ban, Asif for seven years with two-year suspended ban and Aamer for five years by the ICC's Anti-Corruption Tribunal. (ANI)
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