New Zealand Cricket to investigate ground announcer over Mohammad Amir taunts

Mohammad Amir has come under fire from fans. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand Cricket boss David White says he will investigate whether a ground announcer played music or sound effects to poke fun at convicted spot-fixer and Pakistani paceman Mohammad Amir.

According to reports the ground announcer at Westpac Stadium played a cash-register sound effect when Amir came onto bowl on the final Twenty20 last week.

In the opening ODI three days later, Amir was then taunted by fans. Security staff at the Basin Reserve had to step in when a spectator waved money towards Amir.

Pakistani media reported shouts of "I've got a dollar for you" were directed at Amir.

Listen to NZ Cricket CEO David White talking to Martin Devlin on the DRS:

White has told Martin Devlin on The DRS that the crowd member crossed a line but was more concerned about the potential discretion by the ground announcer.

"I'm still waiting to find out whether our grand announcer played that," White said after Devlin played Abba's track Money, Money, Money.

"I don't think that's consistent with New Zealand Cricket's values in the way we like to behave. I'll be very disappointed if the ground announcer did play that because he's employed by New Zealand Cricket. If that's the case I'll find out about it because I'm not very happy about it," White said.

"As opposed to a member of the public in the stands having a bit of banter and humour...it's different. We can't direct people how to behave all the time. There's a line of drunken disorderly abusive behaviour but stadiums are full of people in groups together, around the world there is banter . I guess there is the line that people need to stay within."

Pakistan Cricket chairman Shahryar Khan told CricketNext that the tall bowler's re-integration into the team was going well, but he was shaken by the New Zealand crowd reaction.

After the problems in Wellington, Khan said: "Obviously what happened today is disturbing for Amir and the team but mentally they are prepared for these things and are strong enough to deal with such situations."

A team source went further.

"The spectator was given a firm warning by the groundstaff and security...Amir has tried to take it on the chin but is disturbed," the source said.

Team mate Muhammad Afeez had alerted the umpires and team security staff to the money-waving spectator - ironically Afeez and ODI skipper Azhar Ali were the players who had publicly protested Amir's return to the national squad. The source indicated those two were now assisting his reintegration.

"Amir has repeatedly apologised to them and the rest of the players and has promised he will become a role model from now on," the source said.

According to Stuff.co.nz the ground announcer at Westpac Stadium played a cash-register sound effect.

The teenaged Amir was given a five-year ban in 2010 for spot fixing, which involved bowling deliberate no balls. He also received a six-month jail sentence.

Amir's first delivery in the ODI was a wide, forcing Khan to dismiss "speculation" - another indication that Amir's past will continue to cause him problems.