Karachi (AFP) – Rejuvenated fast bowler Mohammad Amir says he has “unfinished work” at next month’s T20 World Cup, 15 years after dazzling as a teenager when Pakistan last lifted the trophy.
Issued on: Modified:
3 minutes
The 32-year-old, who was arrested for a one-off correction in 2011, came out of retirement last month and is grateful to have another chance at the World Cup.
“It’s a great feeling to play for Pakistan again,” Amir told AFP by phone from Lahore this week, ahead of the tournament in the United States and West Indies, which begins on June 2.
“I want to complete the unfinished work and, for me, the short-term goal is to win the World Cup.”
Young Amir has impressed across all formats after breaking into the Pakistan national team in 2009 and playing in the T20 World Cup.
Within a year he was one of cricket’s hottest young talents, but his precocious career came to an infamous halt in 2010.
Amir was one of three Pakistan players banned from cricket for five years for spot-fixing during a Test match in England after being caught in a newspaper sting. He was later jailed in the UK for six months.
Pakistan captain Salman Butt, who was considered the leader, and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif were also banned and the two were jailed for 30 and 12 months respectively.
Amir returned after being banned to play for Pakistan in 2016, but announced a surprise retirement in December 2020 after poor form prevented him from being selected.
He will form a powerful bowling attack with spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, which puts Pakistan among the World Cup favourites.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board and the team management have shown trust in me, so I have to live up to that trust,” Amir said.
“I came back after four years and when you play for your country the feeling cannot be described.”
Amir played three of the four home T20 matches against New Zealand last month, taking three wickets in a series drawn 2-2, and said he felt part of the attack again.
“To be honest, I felt fitter than I did in 2019 and until you are fit, you can’t express yourself, so I’m ready to do better and better,” said Amir.
He will be in action when Pakistan travel to Ireland for three T20s in Dublin on May 10, 12 and 14.
Pakistan then moved to England to face the reigning T20 world champions in Leeds (May 22), Birmingham (May 25), Cardiff (May 28) and London (May 30).
Village boy to hero
Raised in the village of Changa Bangial in the Punjab province, about 60 kilometers from the capital Islamabad, Amir was determined to make a name for himself in cricket after his five older brothers introduced him to the game.
He was picked at age 15 by none other than the great left-hander Wasim Akram at a fast bowling camp and within two years grew in height and overcame a stress fracture in his back.
Amir now said that he just wanted to remember the good events of his career.
“The memories of winning the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup are special and still move me to this day,” said Amir, who took six wickets in seven matches in the tournament.
They included the award-winning dismissal of Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan – the tournament’s best player – in Pakistan’s final eight-wicket victory.
“I was selected for the first time and then I became part of a champion team.
“When I landed (back) at Rawalpindi airport to go to my village, there were a lot of cars and they were throwing flowers at me,” he recalled.
“I’m lucky to still be playing. When I arrived, I was the youngest in the team, so here I am, having another chance to win the World Cup and that’s the goal for me and my team.”
© 2024 AFP
