Inzamam cooks England Test captain over Amir comments

Pakistan chief selector says the 24-year-old is being pressurised because he is a real threat to the hosts

Pakistan chief selector Inzamamul Haq criticised Alastair Cook’s remarks on Monday after England’s Test captain warned pacer Mohammad Amir to expect a hostile reaction from the crowd at Lord’s next week.

Speaking on a local news channel, Inzamam said that Cook’s comments are part of a campaign to pressurise the 24-year-old because he is a real threat to the hosts. “I see this as the start of a campaign to start pressuring Amir,” he said. “And this because not only England, but even Australia and South Africa see him as a threat.”

The 46-year-old further said that a captain of a national team should not stoop down to make such disrespectful comments. “How would the England captain feel if they were in Pakistan and our captain made a similar statement about some player?” he asked.



However, the chief selector admitted that to avoid any unexpected reaction from the crowd, Amir should not be fielding at the boundaries. “I think it would be a good idea if Amir was not made to field at the boundaries because he will then face hostile comments and remarks,” he said. “It is best to keep him away from the crowd at the start.”

Earlier on Monday, the England Test captain said he feels the 24-year-old will have to deal with the crowd voicing their opinions when play gets under way on July 14 at Lord’s cricket ground.



“I’m sure there will be a reaction and that is right,” he said.

“That is part and parcel, and when you do something like that there are more consequences than just the punishment. That is something for him to cope with, whatever comes his way,” he added.

Cook also previously called for spot-fixers to be slapped with lifelong bans.

Pakistan’s tour to England includes four Tests, five ODIs and one T20I. A tour match against Somerset is currently under way in Taunton where Amir claimed three wickets in Somerset's first innings.

Inzamam was quoted by Press Trust of India