Not long after it became sufficiently clear that the already retired seasoned spinner Imad Wasim had suddenly un-retired and hence, made himself ready for selection for the forthcoming T20 World Cup that another piece of development regarding Pakistan cricket has got everyone talking.
News suggests that Mohammad Amir has come out of retirement to make himself available for selection for the June-bound T20 World Cup due to be held in the Caribbean and North America.
Making his intentions loud and clear albeit in the softest and most heartening tone possible, Amir’s message regarding coming out of retirement mirrored the soul of a cricketer raring to go.
A decision made with heart and mind
It seemed to be coming from the heart of a man who still has so much more to offer to his nation.
It would read- “I still dream of playing for Pakistan. Life brings us to the points where at times we have to reconsider our decisions There has been few positive discussions between myself and the PCB where they respectfully made me feel that I was needed and can still play for Pakistan after discussing with family and well wishers I declare that I am available to be considered for upcoming T20 WC.”
That being said, Mohammad Amir and Pakistan Cricket’s relation has, at best, been productive, volatile and fragile at times.
Promising and yet, complicated
Renowned for being one of the most accomplished swingers of the ball, a talent who could even produce late reverse swing, Amir at his peak was the best thing that happened to Pakistan cricket in its post-Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis era.
He was hard to score off, even hard to hit and, yet there was more to him than met the eye.
All of which became too apparent in a disastrous tour to England that took over a decade back in the day.
Sloppy bowling accompanied by deliberate deliverance of one no ball too many would soon pin one of the finest seamers with the new and old ball under an unflinching eye of scrutiny.
Trouble!
It wasn’t hard to fathom that Mohammad Amir along with Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt were part of a direct conspiracy with regard to spot fixing, a malicious incident in 2010 that would derail their careers throwing in the process the career of a great find of Pakistan cricket under the bus.
The comeback
(Source- Mohammad Amir Twitter)
But years later, Amir with newfound spirit and resilience came back and began bowling like a champion.
He was disciplined in the tours against Pakistan and Sri Lanka but reserved his best for long time sub continental rivals- India.
In the much anticipated final of the 2017 ICC Champion’s Trohy, Amir was back to bowling piercingly quick and deceptive fast bowling delivering a special spell of 3 for 16 that included key wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
While Pakistan made light work of India bowling familiar adversaries out for 180, Amir emerged as the dangerous thorn in the vanquished’s path. His figures of 16 runs from 6 overs and three wickets including two maidens was an instance of classic and faultless fast bowling.
Hard to pick, still?
Though what’s special about Mohammad Amir’s craft is his ability wary his length and mixing up unpredictable yorkers with surprising slower ones. He can swing it, whether at the start or the death of a limited over innings.
To this date, he’s not quite been figured out as yet whether you talk of sensational T20 smashers like Faf, Miller, Pooran, Russell and company or legendary all format names such as Williamson or Root, Rohit or Virat.
Pakistan, who’ll be bolstered by Amir’s return, provided he’s picked in the World Cup squad, will have the entertaining problem of plenty in that alongside Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi, they’ll also be pumped by the presence of two highly accomplished bowlers, including Amir and Wasim.
As on date, the gifted left arm seamer has 147 national caps for Pakistan from which he’s emerged with an impressive stack of 259 scalps. This includes 59 T20I wickets from just 50 games.
Imagine the damage a reinvigorated Mohammad Amir can inflict on Pakistan’s opponents if he’s picked and provided he bowls akin to a man on a newfound mission. Forget not, Amir’s just 31 years old.