Aamer back home after release

LAHORE: Cricketer Mohammad Aamer returned home early Sunday after his release from a British prison, an AFP reporter said.

Aamer was one of three Pakistan players jailed by a judge in London in November over their roles in a plan to bowl deliberate no-balls during a Test against England at Lord's in August 2010.

The 19-year-old is also serving a five-year ban imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Aamer arrived at Lahore airport from London at 4:35 am local time (2300 GMT) and headed straight for his home in the Defence Housing Authority neighbourhood without speaking to media, an AFP reporter said.

Aamer's family members also refused to speak to media. Television footage showed Aamer sitting in a white car as the vehicle entered his residence.

Former Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt was also sentenced to two and a half years for being the "orchestrator" of the scam, while seamer Mohammad Asif received a 12-month prison term for bowling a fraudulent no-ball.

The London-based sports agent Mazhar Majeed who organised the scam was jailed for two years and eight months.

All three players are serving five-year ICC bans.

The scandal emerged as a result of an undercover investigation by the now defunct British tabloid the News of a World.

Both Butt and Aamer had appeals against their sentences rejected in November, with England's top judge saying they had "betrayed" their country.

Last month, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf held out the prospect of Aamer returning to international cricket once his jail term and ICC ban had been completed.

Before the scandal, left-arm paceman Aamer had made a huge impact with his on-field performances. He took 51 wickets in 14 Tests, including seven at Leeds in 2010 as Pakistan beat Australia for the first time in 15 years.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2012