Pakistan: Mohammad Amir's five-year spot-fixing ban ends early

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been cleared to return early from his five-year ban for spot-fixing.

Left-armer Amir, 22, was jailed for six months and banned from all cricket for his part in a spot-fixing scam during Pakistan's tour of England in 2010.

He delivered pre-arranged no balls at Lord's in a plot that also saw Mohammad Asif and captain Salman Butt banned.

Amir's ban was due to expire on 2 September, 2015 but he has been cleared to play domestic cricket in Pakistan.

"It's a new life for me and you will see not only Mohammad Amir as a better cricketer but also a better human being," he said.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the head of the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (Acsu), approved Amir's domestic return.

An ICC statement read: "Sir Ronnie Flanagan, with the prior approval of the ICC board and the Pakistan Cricket Board, has exercised his discretion to allow Mohammad Amir to return to domestic cricket played under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board with immediate effect."

It added that Flanagan "was satisfied" that Amir had:

·         Co-operated with the Acsu by fully disclosing his part in the matters that led to his disqualification

·         Admitted his guilt and showed remorse

·         Co-operated with the unit's ongoing investigations

·         Helped alert fellow cricketers to the dangers of fixing by recording messages for education sessions

Before his suspension Amir took 51 wickets in 14 Test matches at an average of 29.09, and 25 wickets in 15 one-day internationals at an average of 24.