
Former Pakistan pace sensation Mohammad Amir has said he is ruling himself out of making a comeback to the national team, as they try to rebuild after a dismal campaign at the Cricket World Cup.
Amir had a good day in office – night actually – when he bowled a good spell of two overs for just 11 runs in the batting-friend T10 format for New York Strikers in Abu Dhabi in the late evening hours on Wednesday.
Once the best thing to happen in the bowling department of the world in Tests and One-Day International formats, Amir’s career has been slipping. He is still 31, though, and Pakistan sorely missed a fast bowler like him at the World Cup, especially when Naseem Shah got injured and left Shaheen Afridi as the lone genuine fast bowler.
“I am content in my space with my family and playing in international leagues such as Abu Dhabi T10,” Amir said to the Aletihad, hours after getting on a call from new Pakistan team director Mohammed Hafeez. Wahab Riaz and Hafeez are former teammates of Amir and at the helm currently in a system that is not well-known for a consistent setup.
“He [Hafeez] called me and I thank him for reaching out. But I think I have moved on now. Even after the ban [for spot-fixing in a Test match in 2010] took away my five years, the mindset and determination was there to play somehow. But it’s been three years since I last played,” Amir said.
Hafeez had told Pakistan media that he wanted Amir back but he will have to perform well on the domestic circuit because of the gap in action.
In Abu Dhabi, after the Strikers steamrolled past Bangladesh Tigers on a more batting-friendly wicket, Amir added: “I am now settled in my own space that I am carving out. Now to go back to the domestic grind all over again, it will be difficult. Besides, Pakistan has got some talented young fast bowlers and more are coming up. A system has been made for them, and they are capable of delivering better than me.”
On the question of Amir being not as fit as he was, he cut it promptly to reiterate: “International cricket has a lot of pressures. The job is more difficult than playing in the leagues. And the youngsters who have been playing for 3-4 years in Pakistan deserve their chances.”
On Amir’s radar are the upcoming T20 leagues such as Australia’s Big Bash and his homely Pakistan Super League, where he is awaiting to know which team picks him up.
But Abu Dhabi T10 is the more lucrative of it all followed by US T10. A good showing like Wednesday is certainly keeping him in a good space. Against Bangla Tigers, Amir’s happiness was evident. “I was using angles to trouble the batsmen. The wicket was better [compared to the opening game on Tuesday, which Strikers lost]. Credit to the bowlers. We all come together as a unit.
“As a bowler, we should try to learn something out of every condition. What I try to do is find that dot ball out of somewhere. Because that is very precious and bonus in this format.”
Clearly, Amir has his dots on the i’s and crossed the t’s for his career ahead with sensible approach on his priorities.