Shoaib Akhtar lashes out at BBC for referring Mohammad Amir as 'spot-fixer'

Earlier this week, Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir had been referred as the “Spot-fixer” on the BBC website after picking 3 wickets on his first-class return in England. Fans and some of the cricketers have found BBC’s ‘spot-fixer’ jibe at Mohammad Amir in poor taste. The young Pakistan paceman, who was banned from international cricket for five years for spot-fixing at Lord’s in 2010. He is all set to make his comeback to Test cricket in the upcoming series starting July 14.

Mohammad Amir took 3 for 36 in 11 overs in a practice game against Somerset in Taunton. BBC came up with a headline, ‘Spot-fixer Amir Takes Three Wickets on Return’. The BBC headline angered the England player Ravi Bopara, who is Amir’s teammate in Pakistan Super League team, Karachi Kings.

Former Pakistan pacer, Shoaib Akhtar wrote in his column for ABPLive. “I think it was in poor taste. I cannot understand that after Amir has gone through his share of punishments and turmoil why would you like to stereotype him as ‘spot-fixer’.”

“Media as an important stakeholder should help him move on as well rather than dumping him in the darkness of his forgetful past… the idea was to kill the sin and not the sinner.”

Also read – Mohammad Amir’s Lord’s return sickens me: Graeme Swann

“I won’t be surprised if there are few more controversies in the lead-up. I am confident that Pakistan team is wise enough not to get sucked in by any of that. They should focus on the job at hand and care about the scorelines rather than the headlines,” concluded Akhtar.

Earlier in the press conference, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq also pledged his full support to Mohammad Amir. “He’s got the best chance to prove himself out in the middle, and he doesn’t need to worry about what’s happening with thousands of spectators saying something. He just has to focus on what’s going on in the middle.” Misbah said.