1 February 2012 Last updated at 18:40

Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Amir released from jail

Amir is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in world cricket

Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Amir has been released from jail after serving half of a six-month sentence for his part in a fixing scam.

The 19-year-old was released from Portland Prison in Dorset on Wednesday morning.

In November, Amir and team-mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were jailed for a plot to bowl deliberate no balls in a Test match against England in 2010.

All three players were also given five-year playing bans.

The fixing scandal came to light when an undercover News of the World reporter approached sports agent Mazhar Majeed, who was also jailed for his role, pretending to be a wealthy Indian businessman seeking players for a tournament.

Majeed promised him that Asif and Amir would deliver three no-balls at specific points during the Test between Pakistan and England at Lord's on 26-29 August, and claimed to have been fixing games for over two years, with seven Pakistan players working for him.

At the trial, judge Mr Justice Cooke, said Amir was "unsophisticated, uneducated and impressionable" and "readily leant on by others".

Amir, who admitted bowling two intentional no-balls at Lord's, was named player of the series, and many cricket commentators said they hoped the teenager would be given a second chance in his career.