Imran feels sorry for jailed trio’s families

Imran Khan reacting to the sentences in the spot-fixing case said he felt deep sorrow for the three players.
Speaking to a private TV channel, Khan said he felt sorry for the family members of the three players and especially for youngster Mohammed Amir who he called a great talent wasted.
“In a way I also feel sorry for these cricketers because they are from Pakistan where there are massive corruption cases against president (Asif Zardari) and they must have thought crime pays,” said Imran Khan.
He said he was pained to hear the news of Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer being jailed for fixing parts of a Test match against England.
Pakistan former Test captain Butt, 27, received 30 months, fast bowler Asif, 28, received one year in jail and 19-year-old Aamer was jailed for six months.
Imran Khan said it was painful to listen to the news.
“It is painful to listen (to) the news as a former Pakistan cricketer and I feel really sorry for their families,” Khan, who was on a political meeting here, said. Imran Khan added that the punishments are a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket.
“The verdict is a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket and from now on we should be careful and, like we did in the past, should never allow the corruption to set in,” said Khan, who led Pakistan to the World Cup win in 1992.
Khan criticised the previous cricket boards for sweeping the matter under the carpet.
“We should not hide behind the justification that it (fixing) happens in international cricket. It does happen, but Pakistan should set its house in order first and anyone involved should be punished,” said Khan.
Khan, himself a great fast bowler, said “I always felt sorry for Aamer. He may have been influenced by the atmosphere around him, secondly he was the best young fast bowler and for the fact that he came out with a confession”.