London: Kevin Pietersen has called for cricket cheats to be handed life bans as Mohammad Amir prepares to return to England with Pakistan for the first time since 2010.
“Any sportsman or woman caught match fixing, spot fixing or taking drugs should be banned for life,” Pietersen wrote in the Telegraph. “They have broken the rules, should pay the price and not be given a second chance.
“If you cheat the system either by taking drugs or money to under-perform then you are mugging the spectators, your team-mates and a sport that has been around a lot longer than you.”
Six years on from the incident, Amir is set to bowl for Pakistan at Lord’s on Thursday, when day one of the first of four Tests between England and Pakistan gets underway.
However, that’s something which doesn’t sit well with former England batsman Pietersen. He added: “People always deserve a second chance in life but sport is different. We are paid to play a sport we love and are damn lucky to lead the life of a professional cricketer. To try and gain an advantage by taking drugs or devaluing your sport by being bribed is breaking the 11th and 12th commandments. There can be no way back.”
However, Pietersen warned his former England team-mates not to get distracted by the circumstances of his return. “Amir is a star bowler because he has this ability to change angles over and around the wicket. He is verbal. He lets you know he is bowling at you.”
