Harbhajan Singh, the veteran Indian spinner, recently got into a Twitter spat with Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir and slammed him by calling him a “fixer” for his involvement in spot-fixing in 2010. Harbhajan Singh has issued a message for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Social media has been flooded with plenty of reactions from the Twitter spat between veteran Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh and Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir in the last few days.
Harbhajan Singh Requests Imran Khan To Open A School For Mohammad Amir To Learn How To Speak To Senior Cricketers
Mohammad Amir tried to provoke Harbhajan Singh following Babar Azam-led Pakistan’s 10-wicket win over India in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The banter turned into a spat where Harbhajan Singh called the Pakistan pacer a “fixer”. In a conversation, Harbhajan Singh urged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to open a school for people like Mohammad Amir to learn how to talk to senior players.
“I would request Imran Khan to open a school for such children where they can learn how to speak to senior cricketers. In our country, we are taught manners. Even today, we talk with cricketers like Wasim Akram with a lot of respect. And people like him (Amir) don’t know what to talk with whom. I should not have reacted to the comments of a person who sold his country,” Harbhajan said.
The pacer played 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is before announcing retirement. Mohammad Amir has represented the Pakistan cricket team in 50 T20I matches, scalping 59 wickets at an economy rate of 7.02. His last appearance for the Pakistan cricket team came during the side’s England tour last year.
He was a part of the playing XI that played in the second T20I of the series in Manchester on August 30, 2020. He represented Pakistan in 36 Tests and took 119 wickets at an average of 30.47. He also featured in 61 ODIs and claimed 81 wickets at an average of 29.62.
Harbhajan Singh Says Banter Between Him, And Shoaib Akhtar Is Different While Mohammad Air Betrayed His Country As He Was Involved In Spot Fixing
Harbhajan Singh has also had plenty of banter with former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar – but he said the banter between them was different as they have an understanding after having known each other for a very long time.
“The banter between me and Shoaib is different as we know each other for a very long time having played plenty of cricket together. We have also done many shows together. We have an understanding. Who is Mohammad Amir? Is he the same guy who was guilty of match-fixing at Lord’s? What is his credibility? He would have barely played 10 matches for his country and he betrayed his country as well by accepting money to fix a match,” Harbhajan added.
Mohammad Amir and two other Pakistani cricketers, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt, were involved in a spot-fixing scandal during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010. All three cricketers were handed bans, but Pakistan decided to bring back Mohammad Amir in international cricket in 2016. However, after playing for a few years, Mohammad Amir announced retirement from international cricket in December 2020, citing “mental torture”.
Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were found guilty of deliberately bowling no-balls, and they were banned from the sport for some time. While the former was given another opportunity, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt did not play for Pakistan again.
Mohammad Amir has been amid controversies throughout his career. Having made a comeback in 2016 after a lengthy ban for spot-fixing, Mohammad Amir called time on his career prematurely in December 2020. He cited differences with the Board and support staff as the reason for his decision.
After Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis stepped down from their posts, 29-year-old pacer Mohammad Amir decided to make himself available for his country once again.