ISLAMABAD: Former Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir reckons the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should treat the spot-fixing tainted trio equally rather than seeking to allow only Mohammad Amir to make international return.

Last week, the PCB hinted at Amir’s return to international cricket, as statements from national team head coach Waqar Younis and chief selector Haroon Rasheed acknowledged Amir’s impressive show of late in domestic matches as well as in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Qadir, however, thinks the PCB must treat Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif equally, arguing all three were involved in the menace of spot-fixing.

“Now as all three have completed their punishments and are also cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) so all of them should be treated in the same way,” Qadir maintained, adding he felt the PCB had made up its mind to recall only Amir, and not the other two.

Qadir believes if the PCB only allows Amir to play international cricket then it will be injustice to the other two. “When a player has completed punishment for his wrongdoings then there is no reason to stop him back [from playing the sport],” he insisted.

Giving his reaction to some players of Pakistan team who may not be happy if Amir returns to national squad (particularly Mohammad Hafeez who reportedly turned down an offer from a BPL franchise since it also included Amir), Qadir said some players would accept Amir and some won’t.

“The PCB should not have served a notice to Hafeez for making the statement against Amir. It was only his personal opinion and Amir is not PCB’s centrally-contracted player,” reckoned Qadir.

On the Pakistan-India bilateral series scheduled to be staged later this month but which is still not final, Qadir was categorical in denouncing PCB’s policy.

“I do not understand why the PCB is going after India again and again. Even a blind man can see that India is bluffing but the PCB can’t sense it,” Qadir said, adding the ICC, the game’s world governing body, must intervene in such matters.

Commenting on Pakistan’s approach in the forthcoming World Twenty20, Qadir said Shahid Afridi as captain must be given full say in team selection for the mega event. “The selectors will be able to pick a better team with Afridi’s say in the selection.”

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2015