DOHA – Teenage Pakistan paceman Mohammad Aamer said he was shocked and disappointed at being handed a five-year ban on Saturday. “I am shocked and hugely disappointed. I wasn’t expecting that much of a ban,” Aamer told AFP, just minutes after the anti-corruption tribunal of the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced its verdict here. Aamer said he was still confident of being absolved.
“I was confident that I will get away without any punishment, but this is very hard on me. I have just come out of the hearing and have told my family who have tried to console me. “I will sit with my lawyer and decide about appealing against the verdict.” Aamer’s lawyer Shahid Karim had hinted he would try to convince the tribunal that since his client was only 18, and had never committed any violation of the code before, he should be treated leniently.
