Ban could have been for 2 years /.

Had Mohamamd Amir accepted the plea bargain offered initially by the ICC's anti-corruption tribunal then he could have escaped with a two-year ban instead of the five years he is serving right now for his involvement in spot-fixing.

Sources close Amir disclosed that during the hearings of the ICC anti-corruption tribunal in Dubai and Doha late last year and in early 2011, Amir's lawyer was given the option of accepting a plea bargain for his client.

"Amir was told that if he agreed to admit to his crime of spot-fixing and admitted the involvement of teammates, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif while pleading for leniency because of his young age he would escape with a two-year ban," one source said.

"But Amir initially turned down the offer and kept on refuting that he was involved in spot-fixing. But later his lawyer approached the tribunal and told the members his client was ready for a plea bargain but by that time the tide had turned," the source said.

The source also disclosed that during the duration of the hearings, the lawyers for the players complained that their clients were not being entirely honest with them.

"The ICC felt it had an airtight case against the trio and were disappointed when the tribunal imposed a minimum five year ban on the three Pakistani players," the source said.

The Pakistani trio of Mohamamd Amir, Mohamamd Asif and Salman Butt were caught in a sting operation by the British tabloid News of The World last year but the tabloid closed down recently after being caught out in number of unethical practices.

"There was some hope that with the reputation of the NOTW in tatters the players could get some reprieve at the crown prosecution court hearing but this didn't happen as the ICC has also accumulated material against them," the source said.

Amir is facing the possibility of having his ban extended after appearing in a club match in England in the Surrey league.

Zaheer Khan likely to miss second Test: MS Dhoni

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said that given the hectic schedule of the England series, he would not risk the fitness of his pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, who might miss the second Test at Trent Bridge starting on Friday.

"I feel with the kind of cricket we are playing it is important to get people fit and not risk someone for one individual game. We have three days but I am not 100 percent sure he (Zaheer) will play or not," said Dhoni on Monday after India lost the first Test by 196 runs.

"It is a long series and we do not want to risk any further injury. If we feel he is close to 80 or 90 percent fit but playing the game may increase his chances of being injured we will call someone else in," he added.

Khan pulled his hamstring after just three hours of play on the first day of the Test, leaving India a bowler short in the match.

Khan's injury was followed by that of Gautam Gambhir, who had a bruised elbow, whileSachin Tendulkar was feeling the effects of a virus.

“Most of the things that could have gone wrong did go wrong. Batsmen were batting in different slots and it became tough for us to manage the bowlers. There was no Yuvraj Singh, who can bowl spin, and Virender Sehwag, who can bowl off spin so we were limited with resources but I felt the fast bowlers did a very good job,” said Dhoni.

Ambrose "The Raging Bull"

Umar Gul Yorker to Sarwan

England v India, 1st Test, Lord's 5th day Review

Queue of the day
Fans were outside the ground from 2am and tickets were sold out well before play started. Many were left disappointed as the 'house full' signs went up and announcements were made over Twitter telling people to turn around before getting to St John's Wood. The photos and TV pictures of the queues snaking around Lord's brought back memories of Old Trafford during the 2005 Ashes when it was a final-day sell-out. The cricket was just as intense, too.

Waft of the day
England wanted an early wicket but when two chances went begging - an edge through the vacant third slip area and a tough catch to Ian Bell at short leg - it appeared that it was going to be a frustrating morning. Then, out of nowhere, Rahul Dravid played his worst shot of the match as he fished away from his body at James Anderson and was furious with himself as he swished his bat a second time in anger. As with Sachin Tendulkar on the third day, though, Dravid's departure owed much to the pressure built up by Chris Tremlett from the Pavilion End and this time it was Anderson who took advantage.

(Lack of) DRS moment of the day I
The umpiring in this match has, for the most part, been outstanding with Asad Rauf having a perfect game. The tight on-field decisions had all been called correctly until, that is, Stuart Broad had a huge lbw shout against Tendulkar. He implored Billy Bowden to raise his finger but it didn't budge. The one full-time replay on the big screen didn't give a clear picture, but the full set on TV did with the ball hitting middle stump a few inches from the top. It would have been reversed if DRS had been in use and Broad soon got a signal from the dressing room.

(Lack of) DRS moment of the day II
It's possible to argue, though, that Tendulkar's decision wasn't the complete howler DRS was made for - it was towards the top of the stumps. The same can't be said of the appeal against Suresh Raina on 63 when he played back to a ball from Broad - who, the delivery before, had seen a catch put down at point - that didn't bounce much and was struck below the knee roll. Broad almost made his mistake of not turning around and when he did Bowden's finger was still down. Broad ended up on his haunches around a good length and Bowden's brief explanation didn't placate him much, either.

Thankful fielder of the day
Andrew Strauss didn't have a good game at first slip and he's owes his bowlers for not making it even more costly. In the first innings it was a dolly from VVS Laxman and second time around he did what no fielder wants to do - drop Tendulkar. Anderson was in the middle of an outstanding spell and Tendulkar went to leave a delivery but was late pulling the bat away. He almost guided a catch towards Strauss - a tougher chance than the first innings offering, but the England captain spilled it as he dived to his right. However, two balls later it was all forgotten as Anderson swung one back in to Tendulkar's pads and this time Bowden raised his finger. In the midst of the celebrations, Anderson had drawn level as the most successful pace bowler against Tendulkar with his sixth dismissal of him.

Non match-saving innings of the day
Harbhajan Singh was always unlikely to block it for three hours, but his innings won't have gone down well in India. An on-the-up drive off Tremlett showed his mindset, however he did prove he had restraint with a few well-judged leaves outside off. An implosion, though, was always around the corner especially with England chirping in his ear. Having been spilled by Eoin Morgan he went for an ugly pull against Anderson and spliced a simple catch to mid-on