‘Amir likely to be included in Pakistan ‘A’ squad for England Lions series’
Mohammad Amir may be back in Pakistan colours as early as next week after the board and team management agreed to induct the 23-year-old fast bowler in the ‘A’ team for its Twenty20 series against England Lions.
According to a reliable source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Amir's progress after returning to the game from a five-year spot-fixing ban had boosted his chances of being fast tracked to the national side.
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis had a detailed discussion on Amir's future with PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan on Thursday, and said “we are all on the same page” about the young fast bowler's future in international cricket.
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“He (Amir) has served his punishment and he deserves to come back in the (cricketing) community and enhance his profession,” Waqar said.
And it emerged on Friday that the team management had already taken a decision to include Amir not just in the Pakistan 'A' side but also in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) draft list.
“Amir's performances in the domestic matches and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) have impressed the team management. In the absence of a top class fast bowler in the ranks before the World Twenty20, Shahid Afridi and Waqar Younis cannot ignore the left-armer anymore,” the source told Dawn.
“The plan is to not only give Amir a trial run in the 'A' games but also the India series, if it takes place. The objective is to test Amir's bowling and attitude before the World T20.”
With the England Lions series starting on December 7, and the BPL wrapping up on December 15, it remains to be seen how the PCB will work out the logistics of Amir's return to the Pakistan 'A' side.
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 captain Salman Butt and fellow bowler Mohammad Asif were jailed for similar offences.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) lifted all sanctions on the trio in September, making them eligible for domestic and international matches.
And Amir's performances since returning to the field have forced even the PCB chief to take notice.
“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,” Khan told reporters on Thursday.
“We will tell him that your attitude should be correct because people will be looking at your behaviour,” he added.
Since his return, Amir has taken 22 wickets in the Grade II tournament before capturing an impressive 34 in the four qualifying matches of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy.
He then grabbed 17 wickets in Pakistan's premier first-class tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam trophy.
In the Bangladesh Premier League, featuring for the Chittagong Vikings, Amir has picked up 11 wickets from 8 matches at an average of 14.45.
But Amir's path to the national side may not be so smooth after the PCB chairman admitted on Thursday that the Pakistan dressing room was divided on the bowler's return.
Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez reportedly even turned down an offer to play for Chittagong Vikings as he felt uncomfortable to share the dressing room with Amir.
The 23-year-old's first challenge, however, would be to perform on the big stage once again if he gets picked in the playing eleven for the five-match T20 series against England Lions, the first of which starts on Monday.