“Everything
heals. Your heart heals. The mind heals. Wounds heal. Your happiness is always
going to comeback, bad times don’t last’’
No one can better feel this famous saying than
Mohammad Amir. The Pakistani pace spearhead completed a circle, grabbing his
first five wicket haul against West Indies in Jamaica test. It was his first
five for since the most controversial test match of the decade at Lords in
2010. A journey from hell to being hero again for left arm pace man from Gujjar
Khan in Punjab Province of Pakistan.
A
Star in Making
Mohammad Amir started
his cricket journey in Changa Bangial , Gujjar Khan, a sleepy town of Punjab, trying
to emulate none other than great Wasim Akram , role model for kids of his
generation. Talented as he was, he learned the tricks of the trade watching
Akram on television sets. In 2003 at the age of 11, he was selected for the
Sports Academy in Rawalpindi. In 2007, in a pace camp at Lahore he was fortunate
enough to meet his Idol. Akram declared him a special talent in making. By the
end of 2008 he was sitting at the top of table in domestic charts picking up 55
wickets in the season. This forced the selectors to select him for T-20 World
Cup in England in 2009. In a months’ time, 17 year old was playing Test cricket
in Srilanka. However it was in Australia in 2010 where the World came to know
that a star was in making, he destroyed the famous Australian line up in their
own conditions. 6 months later he wrecked them in England , where his seven
wickets helped Pakistan win its first test against Australia in 16 years .
Against England he was even more lethal, picking up 19 wickets at 18.3, which
included 2 five wickets hauls. He was
hailed as once in a lifetime cricketer by the experts all over the world.
Fall
from Grace
28th August 2010 was the day that shook the
foundation of Pakistani cricket. Not only the country was disgraced due to spot
fixing allegations but three of its cricketers were facing criminal charges in
Britain. One of it was 18 year old Mohammad Amir who was alleged to have
deliberately bowled no balls on the first day of the test. Along with Amir , Mohammad
Asif and Salman Butt were banned for 5,7 and 10 years respectively. Amir was
called a cheat, a traitor and disgrace to the game. It was fall from the top to bottom for Amir ,
whose career seemed to plunge into deep darkness. For month’s number of stories
started to surface some of them alleged how the trio prepared to execute their
plans on the eve of the test. Amir was suspended and interrogated by Scotland Yard.
Later in 2011 he was banned by ICC
Tribunal for 5 years and in November 2011 he was convicted by Court of law for
6 months and was sentenced to Feltham Younger Offenders for a period of 6
months .The time here changed Amir as a person, he felt remorse for what he had
done .He decided to be a good human being and
it didn’t mattered whether he returned to cricket or not. Due to his
good behaviour Amir was released after 3 months, serving half of his sentence.
Then began the difficult journey on the way back to the game he loved and
betrayed once.
During the ban Amir changed his
way of living. He was seen donating blood, signing bats for children and
visiting patients at Shaukat Khanam Hospital in Lahore. Amir was banned from
the cricket but he didn’t stayed away from it. Syed Noman Alam , his manager
tells that ICC took away cricket from Amir but couldn’t finish off the cricketer inside him. Both Amir and Noman
used to sit for hours and watch videos of players like Hashim Amla, Virat Kohli
, AB Devilliars and prepared the plans to dismiss them . It was clearly evident
how much he used to miss cricket. The
period out of game also helped him get closer to the family for he left for the
academy in Rawalpindi only when he was 11. Spending time with a family which
was strict and disciplined helped Amir grow stronger.
Return
to Cricket
The kind of remorse Amir showed during his punishment
even melted the hearts of the people sitting in ICC, his punishment duration
was reduced. In 2014 after 4 years of ban Amir played his first cricket club
and in 3 months time he was playing domestic cricket for Pakistan. In December 2015,
he was called to train at NCA ( National Cricket Academy) to train. It was here
that everything began years ago. The foundation of his first stint with
national team was laid here in NCA.
Amir’s return was not
as smooth as it was thought by PCB. After his selection for tour to Newzealand
, he went to attend the conditioning camp for the tour organised by the board. However to
surprise of everyone Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez two senior players refused to
practise in the team due to Aamir’s presence. Amir was reduced into tears he
went on to say to the players there he
will leave if everyone believes that he doesn’t deserves a second change. He
even apologized for what he did. Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali came late for
meeting and an emotional Amir apologized to both of them, The environment
become heavy before Hafeez hugged him and both players forgave him.
Not
the same Amir
While
Amir and people who know him closely say that he is not the same Amir . He is
more mature, calm and disciplined an individual who opens every line with word
honesty. However Pakistan would have loved to see the same Amir performance
wise positively on the field but Amir has found international cricket is not as
easy as it was in his teens. Since his return he has taken 37 wickets in 12
tests at an average of 35.45 comparing to 51 wickets in 12 tests at an average
of 29 with only 1 five wicket haul. In Oneday also he has limited success to
his name clearly denoting that he is still trying to restablish himself in his
second stint .
However seeing Amir and his will power there is one thing for sure he
will find his way out like he rose like a phoenix from the Ashes of Spot fixing
saga.
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