PCB unhappy over Amir appearance in TV show

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board is not happy with the appearance of tainted left arm pacer Mohammad Amir in a television show just prior to the departure of the national squad for England.

According to a well-placed source in the board the matter had been taken seriously since Amir didn't inform them prior to accepting the invitation to appear in the show.

"This has happened just few days after the top PCB officials including Chairman, Sharharyar Khan and Najam Sethi had met with Amir in Lahore and briefed him clearly on what was expected off him in England," the source said.

He said Amir had been told to give his explanation since the board and team management had worked out a plan for him limiting his media appearances ahead and during the tour to England.

The source said what had upset Shaharyar Khan and other officials was that Amir went for the show even though few days earlier he was advised to remain low key, avoid the media and show tolerance and patience while dealing with the media and opposing players and fans in England.

"He was also told clearly to improve his attitude and not antagonise his own teammates," the source added.

The PCB filed a special case to finally secure a visa for Amir who was among three Pakistani players found guilty of spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010.

The other two, former captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were not even considered for the England tour after English authorities conveyed to the PCB they would not be welcome in the UK this year.

The source said Khan would be speaking to Amir about the matter prior to the team's departure from Lahore for London this weekend.

Interestingly, Shaharyar Khan also didn't mince words when he spoke to the media in Karachi on Wednesday indicating that some players were not happy with the PCB decision to allow players to only have their families on tour to England for just two weeks.

He also said he was personally disappointed that the national selectors had not considered Fawad Alam for the Tests in England.

Khan also advised banned Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to avoid speaking against the PCB while abroad. "I think Danish needs to think about what he is saying about the PCB in India. It is not a good thing what he has said and he should be careful with his statements."

Khan said that the PCB had never discriminated against any player because of his faith including Danish Kaneria.