'Aamir's spot-fixing confession has tarnished Pakistan's image'

Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Aamir's admission of his involvement in last year's spot-fixing scandal before a court in England has not only brought a bad name to the country, but also proved that the International Cricket Council (ICC)'s decision on the matter was correct, former Pakistan cricketers have said.

Aamir has been charged, along with Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and their UK-based agent Mazhar Majeed, by British prosecutors with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and also conspiracy to cheat.

The corruption charges relate to allegations that Majeed accepted money from a third party to arrange for the players to bowl 'no balls' on August 26 and 27, 2010, during Pakistan's Fourth Test against England at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.

"I was saying time and again that there is a fault of Pakistani cricketers and they are involved in match-fixing as the white people don't put allegations on anyone without any reason," former fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz told the Nation.

"After the confession of Aamir, it is proved that the Scotland Yard would have handed over very solid evidence to the ICC on the basis of which the ICC took such a strict action," he added.

Former opening batsman Aamir Sohail said the confession would place Pakistan cricket in lot of trouble.

"After this confession he has not only tarnished the image of Pakistan cricket, but also has ridiculed the whole nation," he said.

He further said the confession has opened the door for more allegations from the world.

Earlier, on February 5, Aamir was banned for five years, while Butt was banned for ten years with a five-year suspended ban and Asif was banned for seven years with two-year suspended ban by the ICC's Anti-Corruption Tribunal.