Islamabad, Aug 31: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, allegedly involved in a 1,50,000 pound betting scam that rigged the Lord’s Test against England, deserves to be punished if he has brought shame on the country, his relative has said.

Amir is one of the four players at the centre of the spot-fixing scandal being investigated by the Scotland Yard police.

In the 18-year-old’s home village of Changa Mera, 40 miles from Islamabad, his brother-in-law Mohammad Ashraf said that the fast bowler’s family had been stunned by the revelations.

“If Amir is a culprit and involved in gambling, he should be punished,” The Daily Mail quoted Ashraf, as saying.

“Though he is our relative, he is also a national player and the property of Pakistan. If he is found guilty, he will be a national culprit and should be punished,” he added.

Amir’s family members are also facing questions over whether his allegedly ill-gotten gains helped fund their move from a tiny village house with four rooms between 12 people into a townhouse.

However, Ashraf rejected speculations that the house was either a gift from Amir or possibly from an agent.

“The media is saying that Mohammad Amir was involved in gambling and this house is from the money he earned illegally. That is wrong,” Ashraf said.

“The house cost 8.5 million rupees, and we still owe five million rupees to a property dealer,” he added.

A British tabloid has claimed that Amir and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif had bowled pre-arranged no-balls in the Lord’s Test, which England won by an innings and 225 runs on Sunday. (ANI)