International Cricket Council (ICC) committee chairman Giles Clarke, also chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), confirmed the formation of a team to review the conditions of Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir's ban.

The development comes after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) interim chairman Najam Sethi discussed reducing Amir's ban at the annual meeting of the ICC in London last week.

Clarke said the PCB had pointed out that Amir had collaborated with an ICC anti-corruption unit, admitted his guilt and apologised to fans and to Pakistan and the world community.

“In the light of Amir's cooperation and his public submission of guilt and his undergoing a rehabilitation programme, I stated that I would be prepared with a small group, including Cricket Australia chairman and the representative of Singapore cricket association, to look into the matter,” Clarke told AFP by phone.

Any relaxation, if approved by the ICC board, would allow Amir to use PCB facilities such as cricket grounds and gyms.

Clarke, who headed a special group to help Pakistan bring international cricket from 2008-2011, stressed the importance of banned players admitting their guilt and apologising.

“The two important things for these cricketers, who are either found guilty or implicated, is to come clean by recognising their guilt and apologise and assist the authorities in cleaning up the mess,” he said.

“They owe the Pakistan fans that obligation. I am pleased that Salman Butt has now apologised publicly and recognised and admitted his guilt. That is the first step.”