Mohammad Amir: The Return of Pakistan’s Prodigal Son

International cricket is full of twists and turns and every quarter some headlines spark excitement in the hearts of cricket fans. As the T20 World Cup comes into the picture this year, the respective cricket boards are in the process of finding out the best possible squad for the tournament.

However, one player who recently made headlines comes from the land of pace bowlers – Pakistan. The sensational Mohammad Amir – who retired in the year 2020 from international cricket and left Pakistan, has recalled his decision and has made himself available to play for his nation.

At the age of 31, Mohammad Amir still has the talent and can do wonders for his team considering his performance in the T20 cricket leagues from across the globe.

The decision came into action after the completion of the Pakistan Super League in March and after some constructive discussions between him and the Pakistan Cricket Board. There is no confirmation on Amir’s selection as of now but his availability brings some worthwhile news for Pakistan cricket.

From Wunderkind to Disgrace: A Fall from Grace

Pakistan Cricket has always been in the news for two things primarily. The quality of bowling attacks the country has produced and some illegal activities the international players have done in the past. Mohammad Amir was part of both and hence his fall from stardom to disgrace is still discussed among the pundits from across the globe.

Amir’s rise to stardom was a fairytale script. After the retirements of legends like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan cricket founded the left-arm swing bowler Mohammad Amir.

He was a well-balanced mixture of pace and swing attack who could surprise the batsman in any situation. His 2010 Lords’ performance against England, where he dismissed legends like Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott, gave him a prominent rise and made him one of the future legends from Pakistan.

However, in the same year, things took a wrong turn and Mohammad Amir’s fate with international cricket soon got over.

Mohammad Amir, with his fellow teammates – Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, was found guilty of a spot-fixing incident during the same tour. The three bowlers were found guilty of intentionally bowling no-balls in exchange for Bribes.

The incident destroyed the trust of Pakistani Cricket fans in Amir and shattered his plans with the team. The three players were given a 5-year ban from cricket and fans from Pakistan labelled him a traitor.

The Long Road to Redemption: Rebuilding a Shattered Career

The first Mohammad Amir did to change his image was to accept his mistake and slowly work on rebuilding the future. He served his 5-year ban graciously and started to perform in domestic cricket.

After some brilliant performances in domestic cricket, Amir returned to Pakistan’s national team. His bowling has become more controlled and consistent, with a focus on accuracy alongside his natural swing.

However, it came as a shock that at the age of 27, Amir announced his retirement because of the ill-treatment from the Pakistan Cricket Board. He also moved to the UK and applied for citizenship in the country.

However, over time, Amir became part of the T20 cricket leagues from across the globe and showcased his talent. He eventually built a strong trust in the Pakistan cricket board and recently shared the news of making himself available for the national team again.

After Pakistan’s embarrassing performance in the ODI World Cup last year, the team needs a dependable bowler like Amir and the selection committee will be looking forward to having him onboard.