The return of Amir — no easy answers

The return of Mohammad Amir to the national fold is easily the most hotly debated topic among cricket fans in the country.

From a paan wala to the most influential cricketer-turned-politician in Pakistan’s history, a sizeable chunk of the country’s 180-million population has either backed or derided the return of the prodigal son of the soil, who ‘sullied the reputation of the game’ with his offending right foot at the home of cricket five-and-a-half years ago.

But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has weathered the storm for now. Amir’s stellar form with the ball in the Bangladesh Premier League and the selectors’ losing faith and patience in Sohail Tanvir’s abilities meant that Amir’s past shenanigans had to be overlooked in the face of his incredible bowling talent.

However, there still remain a few stumbling blocks. While naming the T20I and ODI squads for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand, the official PCB press release stated that Amir will be drafted in the team subject to visa clearance.

The days leading up to the squad’s selection provided rich drama, with the ODI captain Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez openly expressing their angst at Amir’s return. Both claimed that their ‘conscience stood in the way of accepting the left-armer’s comeback’.

On the contrary, T20I captain Shahid Afridi chose an appropriate time to air his views — once the squads were announced.

Boom Boom, in his typical no-nonsense approach, stated that ‘Amir never lied to him, the nation or the courts; his talent and the newfound commitment to the team can’t be ignored anymore, and it is now the time to move on.’

At the twilight of his career, Afridi knows well that Amir is that potential match-winner who can win him the World Twenty20 crown in India; perhaps his backing for the youngster stems largely for the very reason.

Head coach Waqar Younis, who was also at the helm when the spot-fixing scandal first broke, has also gotten over the hurt of the past. The cricketing powers in the country know well that in the prevalent scarcity of fast-bowling talent and stock, Amir’s resurgence is nothing short of a breath of fresh air.

At the other end of the spectrum, Amir and Hafeez aren’t the only cricketing figures who have expressed their displeasure. Former captains Rashid Latif, Ramiz Raja and former coach and Test batsman Mohsin Khan haven’t minced words in their opposition for the PCB think-tank’s approach.

In Pakistan, tongues are expected to wag for some time yet. But what is the international reaction to Amir’s return? One hopes that Amir, the PCB and the team management realise that the real test begins now.

As soon as the news of Amir’s induction broke, the foreign media jumped up to settle old scores. A leading British broadcaster screamed ‘Spot-fixer returns to Pakistan’. Similar headlines were flashed in majority of the cricketing nations.

Afridi and Co want Amir for the World Twenty20 even in the best of times. Moreover,  one doesn’t need to have an overreaching imagination regarding how the Indian crowds — whose behaviour ranges from boisterous to downright abusive when it comes to India v Pakistan — would react if the left-armer gets on a roll and wreaks havoc in the marquee India-Pakistan clash at Dharmsala on March 19.

Amir needs immense mental strength and the proverbial ‘heart of a lion’ to take on the world hereon. It must be understood by all that the pacer will require mental counselling with the unbridled support of the senior players around him.

In the initial days, the team management will need to shield Amir from the glaring eyes and cameras of the international press and even cricket fans. Every move the youngster makes is set to grab the headlines both in and outside Pakistan, his feats on the field are likely to be questioned, and his behaviour off it too will be under the microscope for days and months.

Amir dare not bowl a no-ball either; but to his credit, he has made rapid adjustments since his return and barely touches the bowling crease with his left toe in the delivery stride.

Meanwhile, there is still no guarantee of Amir’s New Zealand visa. The PCB’s legal advisor has already hinted that the joys of Amir’s support camp might be short-lived, since ‘it is within sovereign ambit and discretion of any country to grant or refuse any person a visa.’

And if New Zealand refuses to grant Amir a visa, what are the chances that India will?

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2016.

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