Pakistan’s young fast bowler, Mohammad Amir is set to make his test return after a five-year long ban which he faced during the England tour in 2010 and the team manager Intikhab Alam has insisted that Amir cannot afford another slip in his career.
The young pacer who burst onto the international stage back in 2009 at a tender age of 17 and has emerged as one of the best bowlers around by 2010. However, he along with Mohammad Asif has bowled no-balls deliberately in the tour of England back in 2010 under the guidance of then captain Salman Butt in return for a monetary benefit.
The trio was found guilty and was handed bans accordingly. Amir’s whose ban was lifted last year has looked in fine form since his return. The player was granted visa by the UK authorities to travel with the 17-member squad for the forthcoming series.
However, the young bowler will face the mental challenge as he will be playing in the same country and the same venue in which he has committed the crime.
“Amir cannot afford to put a foot wrong. He has to prove a point to the cricketing world that there will be no slip-up, make up for the five years he lost and do justice to his talent by bringing laurels,” said Alam.
The manager also fears that the player might get provoked in the upcoming tour. “I fear people will provoke him on and off the field. But, he has been told to remain calm and do not react. That happened on his first tour when he was fielding on the boundary line. But, they die down once you don’t react.”
“The message is clear for all the players and that is there will be no compromise on discipline and zero tolerance. Amir will have to follow a strict code of conduct which stops him from meeting people and focus on cricket.”
“Since his return, Amir has been very good and has shown remorse for what he did. People expect miracles from him but he has been very good on the three tours he has had so far and we hope he will deliver to the best of his abilities in England.”
Amir will begin a new chapter in his career as he is set to play once again in Lords after 6 years on July 14.