Ramiz questions support of Aamer

Former Pakistan captain turned commentator Ramiz Raja has criticised the lobbying for the return of banned paceman Mohammad Aamer, banned for spot-fixing, saying his return would expose the team to the "virus".

Aamer, along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, was banned in a spot-fixing scandal on Pakistan's tour of England in 2010.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), at the request of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), earlier this month revised its anti-corruption code, paving the way for all the banned players to feature in first-class cricket a few months before their bans expire.

The PCB said it would launch an appeal for Aamer later this month and a final decision on when he can return to domestic cricket is expected at the next ICC meeting in January.

Ramiz questioned why Aamer's return was fast-tracked.

"Why is the world so keen to see Aamer back? The managers of the game, who for whatever reason are trying to fast-track him into the very system that he had wronged, have obviously not experienced the pangs of betrayal and cheating that fixing causes," wrote Raja in his cricinfo column on Wednesday.

Raja revealed he had experienced how fixing can damage the game during the 1990s with a scandal which ultimately led to a life ban on then captain Salim Malik and fines on six leading players, including former captains Wasim Akran and current Pakistan coach Waqar Younis in 2000.

Raja said the current players needed to be asked would they like to play alongside Aamer.

"Someone needs to ask the Pakistan players if they at all want Aamer back. After years of perseverance, Misbah-ul-Haq and his men have been able to salvage Pakistan cricket and its image," said Raja of the current Pakistan captain.

"Should they be exposed to a virus now? How unjust would it be to the performers who have toiled long and hard to make way for a man whose integrity is still suspect."

Raja, who played 57 Tests and 158 one-day internationals, refused to buy the argument that Aamer was naive.

"The argument put across in Aamer's favour is that his talent was compromised at a young age due to poor judgement and his naivete, and because he comes from a poor family," he said.

"If that is the case, there are millions of other Pakistani youth who have had a tough start in life, and less than ideal upbringings.

"Does that give them a licence to use underhanded means and cheat to make a living?

"It is the most awful and sickening feeling. When a bunch of rogues you share the dressing room with are fighting tooth and nail to lose a match, it kills your desire to play the game, and whips up a desire to kill them."