Mohammad Amir primed to become Pakistan great - seven years on from darkest moment

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Tom Collomosse19 June 2017

Mohammad Amir best friend believes he will become one of cricket’s greats after the Pakistan star achieved redemption on the biggest stage.

Amir bowled Pakistan to a shock victory over India in the Champions Trophy Final at The Kia Oval yesterday — less than five miles from his darkest moment as a sportsman.

Amir was one of three Pakistan players involved in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, which took place during the Lord’s Test against England. Amir, who was 18, was banned from cricket for five years and also served three months of a six-month prison sentence in a young offenders’ institute.

The left-arm pace bowler, 25, made his international comeback in January 2016 but this was easily his most significant performance. In his first five overs, Amir removed India’s top three — openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, and captain Virat Kohli — and set Pakistan on the way to their 180-run victory.

“I have played with Amir since 2007,” revealed Imad Wasim, the Pakistan all-rounder. “I captained him in the Under-19 team and I have always believed in him. He has always been world-class, a big-match player.

“I met him during his ban and it was not a good feeling. Because he had to live for five years without cricket, he was down and out.

“I played with him when he made his comeback in domestic cricket — it was unbelievable. He had the same pace, the same everything [as before he was banned. I said, ‘How do you do it?’ but he has natural talent.

“He is working hard at it now and everyone can see the way he is bowling. I am one of his best mates and we really wanted him in the team. Whatever happened in the past has happened but he is the number one bowler in Pakistan cricket. After five years out of the game, you can imagine how tough he is mentally. The best is yet to come from him.”

Cricket fans should be able to see more of Amir during the second half of the summer, as he is due to take up a deal with Essex. Amir’s arrangement means he will play County Championship fixtures for the current Division One leaders, as well as NatWest T20 Blast matches.

He could even feature in the day/night four-day game against Middlesex at Chelmsford, starting on June 26.

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