Monday 28 December 2015 14:48, UK
Imran Khan believes the cricketing fraternity should get behind Mohammad Amir as he attempts to resurrect his international career with Pakistan.
The 23-year-old, along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, were banned from cricket for five years for their part in the spot-fixing scandal of 2010.
The trio were also handed jail sentences after being found guilty of taking money for no-balls which were deliberately bowled during the Lord's Test against England in August of that year.
Amir was allowed to play domestic matches from April of this year, after the International Cricket Council (ICC) relaxed certain conditions of his ban through an amendment to its code of conduct.
His international ban ended in September and his recent Twenty20 performances for Chittagong Vikings, in the Bangladesh Premier League, caught the eye of Pakistan's selectors.
Amir took 14 wickets in nine matches for the Vikings which led to his inclusion in a 26-man training squad which is currently being held at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore.
He is tipped to be part of the Pakistan squad for a limited overs series in New Zealand next month, ahead of the World Twenty20 in India which starts in March.
But when he attended a fitness camp for prospective national players last week, former Twenty20 skipper Mohammad Hafeez and current one-day captain Azhar Ali boycotted training.
He has apologised to everyone so I appeal to all those who are opposing his return to stop their moves against him.
Hafeez had said last month: "I have no personal issues with Amir. It's my personal opinion that I can't share a dressing room with someone who hurt my country's integrity."
But 63-year-old Imran, who skippered Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup, says Amir should be welcomed back by his contemporaries.
Imran, who made 88 Test appearances and played in 175 ODIs during a 21-year international career, said: "A teenage boy commits a mistake and then did not lie in court, confesses his guilt and completes his punishment, he should play again.
"He has apologised to everyone so I appeal to all those who are opposing his return to stop their moves against him.
"Criminals are running the country, so it is irrational that someone who has completed his sentence is opposed on his return."
Before Amir's ban, Khan had described him as "the hottest property in international cricket", while another legendary all-rounder Wasim Akram said Amir was better than he was at the age of 18.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has asked former captain Shoaib Malik to take Amir under his wing in the forthcoming Pakistan Super League, a Twenty20 league where both will play for Karachi Kings.
