Mohammad Amir: I want to make my fans happy again

Mohammad Amir

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has said that he wants to bring a smile back on the faces of his fans once again and intends to get off to a positive start in his second wind as a cricketer. The 22-year-old left-arm pacer was cleared to return to domestic cricket on Thursday by the International Cricket Council (ICC) with immediate effect.

The five-year ban, imposed on him due to his involvement in spot-fixing during the 2010 tour of England, was cut short by eight months after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) requested the governing body to allow him to return to first-class cricket.

Amir hoping to play cricket positively

Amir further said that the game in general had suffered because of him.

“Fans were disheartened because of me. I want to make them happy and win them over again. They felt bad for cricket I have to tell them that cricket is a gentleman's game and I am going to prove it. Once Amir had a dream to play for Pakistan now Amir's dream is not only to play for Pakistan but also for these people around the world,” Amir said in an interview for the documentary ‘Death of a Gentleman’ which is slated to release later this year.

"All eyes will be on me and I have to prove this with my performance, my attitude, my behavior. Pressure obviously will be there because I will be getting a new life so I have to play my cricket positively. It's different because this time I won't be playing for myself, I will be playing for the fans of cricket, and not only for Pakistani fans but all those around the world who followed me, supported me,” he added.

“I believe cricket suffered because of me.”

Amir can’t wait to get back

The left-arm pacer, who made his One-Day International (ODI) debut as a 17-year-old against Sri Lanka in July 2009, also said that he always visualises how he is going to run-in and bowl in his mind and thinks about what type of delivery he is going to bowl, depending on the kind of batsman who’s on strike.

"I always think when I am in my room, laying on my bed imagining being in the ground with the ball in my hand. My eyes are closed, I am taking a run-up to take a wicket on my first ball. Whatever, if the batsman is right or left, I have a plan to do inswing to get the batsman bowled.

"Also what I mostly imagine is the feeling of taking a wicket on the first ball. When I get my first wicket on my return: I will expose my tights under my shirt saying, 'Amir is back.' So I am thinking and imagining this again and again,” he said.

Amir also admitted that early on in his career, he was a bit nervous while playing for his country but added that he wouldn’t feel as much pressure the second time around.

"To be honest, when I left my house I knew that it will be challenging to play for Pakistan. Maybe it was difficult for me earlier, but now I have ample international cricket experience so it won't be difficult this time. I am a strong believer that if one is positive he will have the positive result. I have a belief in Allah. I can do all of my hard work and maintain my good faith and the result is in the hands of Allah, but the fruit obviously will be positive," he said.