The curious case of Mohammad Amir: Does he deserve a second chance?

Amir is currently part of one Bangladesh Premier League franchise

“To err is human, to forgive divine.”

Since time immemorial, men and women alike have believed that the world houses individuals, who, with a streak of patience and kindness, will overlook all flaws that exist in the modern day.

However, recent quotations, words and newspaper reports, have given hints of an existing environment where virtue is but folklore and goodness just a vice. In an age when the ideal has ceased to exist, traits like loyalty and trust have receded to the backburners of one’s moral character.

How very ironical then, that in this perfectly intolerant surrounding (urm.. not my thoughts!), one expects beings around us to wear a garb of tolerance, anticipating them to excuse all our mistakes that are committed, either intentionally or accidentally, time and again, one after the other.

The tale of an error committed 5 years ago, at the hallowed Lord’s stadium

Let us get straight to the point. 5 years ago, when the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid still donned the national colours, a number of no-balls bowled during the fourth Test match between England and Pakistan at the hallowed turf of Lord’s, threw open a can of worms, which sadly, changed the way our favourite sport has been viewed ever since.

When three international cricketers, namely Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were readily accepting a few thousand pounds to underperform, little did any of them realise that they were inversely tarnishing the image of a game that had given them all, more than any other profession could have bestowed upon them.

Their ingratitude and the ease with which they went on towards this deed stayed on in the minds of the fans, whereby they lost reverence and respect for the cricketers, they had pledged to support at all costs.

A series of doubts and suspicions followed every untoward incident on the cricket field thereafter, with the sincere sweat and blood flushed out by the hardworking, honest players going unappreciated.

A sport which had till then defined passion intertwined with aggression, suddenly found itself in new lows, as it tried hard to hold onto its integrity, that had been so mercilessly rendered apart by the three players from Pakistan.

The trio were sent to prison and were banned for 5 years from all types of cricket, but the disrespect that had been brought about to the sport still had to be evaporated. The tireless efforts of the remaining cricketers around the globe, who upheld all ideals and played sincerely, eventually ensured that cricket walked away with its head held high.

Cricket stood tall despite the fixing controversies

An incident that could have damaged the reputation of the sport for good, rather turned this cricketing fraternity into a closer unit, wherein each administrator, each player- international or domestic, and each fan joined hands to eradicate the evils that were plaguing a game that has managed to earmark its way into the heart and soul alike.

One feared when cricket was equated with money yet again in 2013 after the Indian trio of Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan were allegedly embroiled in spot-fixing during the Indian Premier League.

The fan in me feared that cricket would once again pummelled to a low it should rather never have to visit. However, cricket did fall, but it never succumbed.

The loyal fans trusted the players yet again, ultimately realising that only passion drove every cricketer through the pain and fatigue of the monotonous practice sessions. Every single day.

Pakistan cricket, which had already been reeling from its own internal issues, received a major jolt, many thought it could not cope with. An 18-year-old Amir, widely regarded as the heir to Wasim Akram, cast aside a promising career in a moment of weakness, leaving his national team sans a fast bowler who could steam roll the opposition.

Yet, the mesmerising aspect of life is that it goes on. A few hiccups later, Pakistan were back to their old funny ways - snatching defeat from winning positions and celebrating stunning victories from impossible situations.

Is the cricketing world ready to welcome back the tainted trio?

From September this year, after missing two World Cup tournaments and serving out their ban, Amir as well as Butt and Asif, have been pronounced free to play international cricket once again.

After the immense insolence and disregard that have been displayed towards the country, are the citizens still ready to accept the “tainted” trio, forever to be seen with suspicious eyes? Is cricket ready to welcome them back after purging itself of all sin? Is everything forgotten?

Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez, in a bold move, openly displayed his inhibitions on being in the same team as Amir, rejecting a lucrative sum from the Chittagong Vikings, which had already signed on Amir for the Bangladesh Premier League.

Kevin Pieterson, who was one of the twenty-two players involved in the Lord’s Test match when the ugly incident unravelled itself, minced no words in stating that no player involved in fixing should return to international cricket.

The voices of both these players only show the pains of betrayal and infidelity inflicted half a decade ago, with the memories etched from that day buried deep inside.

Were Hafeez and Pietersen right in refusing to give Amir a second chance?

Yes, the International Cricket Council has rendered the trio guilty of all charges, but is not everyone entailed to their own opinion? Will you ever be able to trust a colleague who has made a mockery of your efforts, by twisting all your beliefs and principles, leaving you alienated and isolated, to crawl out of the pit they pushed you in?

Your answer is as good as mine is.

Yes, Amir was a naive teenager when his captain Butt asked him to exchange money for his ideals. Yes, he did not have a full bearing on what the consequences would be if he were to get caught. So then can he not be pardoned?

No, he cannot. From his humble childhood days, even before he had dreamt of representing his country in the game of cricket, he would have been taught the lessons of honesty, integrity and sincerity - principles which were to be followed in all walks of life. A lesson was washed away the day he fell into the worldly trap of money and everything it had to offer.

By breaching and violating this code, Amir as well as every other cricketer who has been involved in fixing, has trampled upon the dreams of a youngster, who should rather have played cricket in their place, appreciating the beauty of the game rather than repeatedly insulting it.

If people forgive and offer him another chance, the intensity of the deed that had been committed will stand diluted, whereby every upcoming player will have the hope of a second chance if he falters.

Cricket has, and will always be much more than an individual and his talent. If Amir fails to perform in an odd game, the already scrutinising eyes of the public will once again bring back doubt into the game. It will pressurise Amir. It will pressurise cricket.

Since that day, rapid strides have been taken to revolutionise cricket globally and it does not need anything to pull it back. Our game does not deserve that.