Surrey support sought over suspended Amir

The 19-year-old pace bowler was suspended for five years by the International Cricket Council in February after being found guilty of deliberately bowling no balls in the spot-fixing scandal against England last year.

His ban states Amir must not take part in any cricket-related activity but he confirmed on Wednesday that he had played for Addington 1743 on Saturday in the Surrey Cricket League, with the club website stating that he took four wickets in seven overs and made 60 runs against St Luke’s.

Amir insisted that he had checked with the club if the match fell under the auspices of the ECB, but was told that it was a friendly.

He said: “I was informed by club representatives before the game that it was a friendly match, being played on a privately-owned cricket ground.

“I asked if the match fell under the jurisdiction of the ECB and they informed me it did not.

“I spoke to several club representatives about the issue and they all told me that it was a friendly match and therefore would not contravene my ban.”

The ICC launched an investigation into the reports with the ECB following suit, and the latter have now asked Surrey Cricket Board to help them look into the matter.