Aamir''s lawyer confident his client would be exonerated

Karachi, Jan 14 (PTI) The lawyer of Pakistan''s suspendedTest bowler Mohammad Aamir feels that his client has a goodchance of being exonerated of spot-fixing charges when theInternational Cricket Council anti-corruption tribunalannounces its verdict on February 5.

"This time the tribunal has taken to announce itsdecision I see it as a silver lining for Aamir," Shahid Karimtold reporters after reaching Lahore from Doha, where he hadgone to attend the six-day tribunal hearing.

The Pakistani lawyer said the hearing had gone well andthe time the tribunal was taking indicated it wanted to bevery clear about its verdict.

"The tribunal has exonerated Aamir and Mohammad Asif ofall charges relating to the Oval Test against England lastyear and I am hoping they would also be exonerated for chargesbrought against them by the ICC for the Lords Test," Karimadded.

The Lahore based lawyer said that he himself hadrequested the tribunal to defer their decision and take theirtime to reach a conclusion after studying all the evidences,statements made at the hearing.

"I am happy with the procedure of the hearing," he said.

Karim said he was hopeful of his client being discharged,considering the player''s age and past disciplinary record.

"Aamir handled himself well at the hearing and left agood impression. I hope the tribunal takes into considerationhis young age and past record.

Pakistan''s suspended Test captain Salman Butt, who alsoreturned from Doha declined to offer any comments, making itclear that the ICC had directed the players not to speak tothe media.

However, Aamir said he was happy with the way thetribunal proceedings had gone.