Pakistan Bowler Mohammad Amir Blames Salman Butt For Spot-Fixing Charge (VIDEO)

Spin Bowling - Amir Blames Butt (VIDEO)

Mohammad Amir has blamed former Pakistan captain Salman Butt for the spot-fixing scandal which led to both being imprisoned.

Amir, 19, served half of his six-month sentence and was released in February, but vented his anger at Butt in an interview with ex-England batsman Michael Atherton for Sky News.

He said: "I am so angry with Salman. He took advantage of our friendship. He should have helped me instead of involving me in all this."

Butt, bowler Mohammad Asif and agent Mazhar Majeed are still in prison after their spot-fixing exploits during the Pakistanis tour of England in 2010.

Majeed was exposed by the News of the World's investigative journalism team, who surreptitiously filmed him informing them when two no-balls would be bowled.

Amir's infamous no ball:

Amir, a promising cricketer who became the youngest bowler to take 50 wickets at the age of 18, was banned from all forms of cricket for five years in February 2011. Speaking for the first time since his release, he believes Butt capitalised on their friendship and led him astray

"When I first met Salman Butt, he was a senior player and a star for Pakistan," Amir continued. "He had a very good image among the junior players.

"It wasn't that he was only nice to me. He was close to all the juniors, cracking jokes and socialising with them. He was educated and well behaved and I thought he was a nice man.

"He told me that he had mentioned my name to someone and told them I was a nice boy and a very good bowler. He treated me like an elder brother treats his younger brother."

Still only 19, he teenager also recalled the process of meeting Butt's friend in Dubai - a man known only as Ali - and how he bookmaker went about gaining his trust.

Amir speaks to Michael Atherton:

"In England he called while I was at Edgbaston and asked for my UK mobile number - which I gave him because he was Salman's friend," Amir added.

"He asked about bank account details. I asked 'Why?'. He said: 'Give me them and I'll tell you later what it's for'.

"They don't trap you by putting a gun to your head, they befriend you."

"Twice he asked if Salman had had a word with me and then for my bank account details. I was trying to figure things out. That's why I had sent those texts."

Amir claims he was manipulated by Butt and Majeed into believing he was under investigation by the ICC, with the duo promising they could keep his name out of the investigation if Amir repaid them "a favour" in return.

Amir explained: "I said: 'What favour?'

"He replied: 'Do two no balls for me'.

"I'd like to say how stupid I was. I was churning inside, cursing myself. I knew that it was cheating cricket, that it was out of order and that it shouldn't happen. It was a really horrible feeling."

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