England skipper Alastair Cook has said that he expects tainted Pakistani pacer, Mohammad Amir, to receive a hostile welcome when he makes his much-anticipated return to Test cricket.
After making a return to the limited-overs cricket earlier this year, the left-arm pacer is in contention to make his Test return, and, should he be selected for the first Test at Lord’s which starts from July `14, his comeback game would be at the venue the infamous fixing incident took place.
The trio of Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt, and Mohammad Asif were banned from cricket for spot-fixing during a Test match against England at Lord’s in 2010 – before being later jailed in Britain. While Amir has made a return to international cricket earlier this year, the other two are still waiting to do the same.
I’m sure there will be a reaction and that is right,” said Cook.
“That is part and parcel, that when you do something like that there are more consequences than just the punishment. That is something for him to cope with, whatever comes his way.
“There is always a sideshow and a story running in the media. Whatever Test match you are playing in there is always something off the field, whether it is political or something like this.
“It won’t affect us as a side, we will concentrate on what we can concentrate on. The media will ask questions about it but it will not affect us.”
Cook once again said that he wants life bans for the fixers. However, he said that Amir is “absolutely right” to make a comeback after serving his five-year ban.
“It was very different then – match-fixers didn’t get caught,” he added.
“That was the first big one in England, we had others, but this was the first in the modern era.
“Whether I agreed or disagreed with the punishment, he got it, served his time and he is absolutely right to come back. What he did wasn’t good, but he served his punishment then.
“It hasn’t happened and the ICC haven’t made any big statements, but if I was in charge if you got caught once that would be it – one strike and you’re out.”