London, Sep 15 (IANS) Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf Wednesday called for leniency for suspended Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Aamer saying that the 18-year-old may have acted under the influence of the senior players.

The tainted trio of Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt has been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on spot-fixing charges during the last Test against England at Lord's.

Musharraf condemned cheating but said Aamer should be pardoned, citing his youth, his talent and poor family background.

"This boy, I would say, is hardly a man at 18, who came under the influence of senior players, needs to be seen compassionately for the sake of his family and for the sake of cricket at large. It's a very sad incident," Musharraf was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph on the sidelines of an investor conference in Hong Kong.

"Instead of destroying a person, rehabilitation of the person is required. We need to do everything to rehabilitate him and set an example for others."

Musharraf's comments came after he expressed his desire to return to Pakistan politics. He announced Wednesday that he is forming a new political party and will return to the country to contest in the national elections in 2013.

The former president took power in a coup in October 1999 but was forced to step down in 2008 amid nationwide protests.