PCB investigates Amir playing practice game

 The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken notice of reports that suspended pacer Mohammad Amir had bowled a few overs in a practice match at an international cricket stadium in Rawalpindi.

"The Board has asked for details of the said match from its officials in the Rawalpindi regional cricket academy," one well-placed source said.

"It is not clear as yet whether the match between the Army team and Rawalpindi was organised by the PCB Pindi regional academy or was a private fixture," the source added.

A Board official confirmed that under the regulations of the International Cricket Council (ICC), any suspended player could not take part in any cricket match, event or activity organised by his home Board or its affiliated units.

"Amir or the two other suspended players, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt, can''t take part in any match, event or activity organised by the PCB or any of its affiliated units," confirmed the source.

Meanwhile, Sabih Azhar, a coach at the PCB academy in Pindi admitted that Amir had bowled in the match.

"I was not present when this happened but when I came back to the ground, I came to know he had bowled a few overs for the Army side," Azhar said.

But the coach claimed that the match was not organised by the regional academy and was a private and friendly fixture.

A source in the Board said that the PCB would also hold its own inquiry to find out status of the match.

"It is something we need to look into because the suspended players shouldn't be taking part in cricketing activities sanctioned by us or our affiliated units."

Few months back, the ICC had to remind the PCB about the regulations over suspended players when Salman Butt practiced at the National Cricket Academy at Lahore, after which all the three players were barred from the nets and playing facilities at the academy.

The trio will learn on February 5 what decision the ICC anti-corruption tribunal has taken on the charges of spot-fixing against them.

A source in the Board said that a few weeks ago, the Lahore city cricket association had even asked for permission from the Board to allow Amir to practice with them but the request was turned down by the PCB.

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