Mohd. Aamir focusing on appealing before CAS against five-year ban

Islamabad, Feb 28 (ANI): Pakistan's banned fast bowler Mohammad Aamir is currently focusing in pursuing his appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) against the five-year ban handed out by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Aamir returned to Pakistan on Sunday after being released from a young offenders' institute in Dorset after serving half of a six-month sentence handed down in November.

The CAS, based in Switzerland, registered Aamir's appeal in March 2011 - filed at the same time as those of Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt - after an ICC tribunal had banned the trio from playing any level of cricket.

The CAS is yet to announce a panel to hear the appeal and that will only be formed once Aamir takes the process further.

The appeal has been delayed because of the criminal charges involved and the sentences imposed.

"It's only the CAS now, which has the right to hear the appeal against the decision. And any decision made by CAS shall be binding on all," Daily Times quoted the PCB legal advisor, as saying.

The PCB is not liable to provide a player financial aid while they pursue a case before the CAS, but the PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf has previously hinted that Aamir would be given support while undergoing rehabilitation.

"All offences against which the players were accused off were in their personal capacity for their personal acts so therefore they will face these (CAS) proceeding in their own personal capacity," he added.

"The cases will be handled in accordance with the procedural rules set out in the code of sports-related arbitration. The parties will first exchange written submissions and will then be heard at a hearing, the date of which will be fixed at a later stage," CAS said in a statement when the appeals were lodged. (ANI)