Pakistan cricket chief Shaharyar Khan and head coach Waqar Younis last Thursday hinted that Mohammad Amir will be considered for selection in the national team following his return to cricket after a five-year ban.
Amir, 23, returned to domestic cricket in April, three months after the International Cricket Council relaxed certain conditions of his five-year ban for match-fixing.
Amir was tipped as one of the most talented young fast bowlers when he was jailed in 2011 after admitting bowling no balls the previous summer against England at Lord’s in exchange for cash.
His the then captain Salman Butt and fellow bowler Mohammad Asif were jailed for similar offences.
The ICC lifted all sanctions on the trio in September, making them eligible for domestic and international matches.
“It seems that Amir’s performance in the last four, five months is very good and he is knocking at the door to be considered,” Shaharyar told reporters.
“We will tell him that ‘your attitude should be correct because people will be looking at your behaviour’,” he added.
Pakistan’s former Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez last month became the first player to publicly oppose Amir’s return, saying his inclusion will hurt Pakistan team’s image.
But Younis backed Amir’s return.
“We have had a detailed discussion and we are at the same page that if Amir has completed his punishment then he deserves to return to the community,” Younis told media.
“I think if Amir has got permission for the Bangladesh Premier League then it’s good and he has proved that he is on the right track, so it’s our duty to give him another chance.”
Amir is currently playing in the Twenty20 league in Bangladesh and has shone with the ball, despite the struggles of his franchise Chittagong Vikings. Although the Vikings have lost six of their eight matches, Amir has taken 11 wickets and has also been impressive with his economy rate.
And according to sources, Amir himself is confident of his participation in the inaugural Pakistan Super League, scheduled to be held next February. The left-arm seamer thinks consistent displays in the PSL will stand him in good stead for a probable return to the national side in the future.
