While Mohammad Amir is preparing earnestly for making a comeback into whites during Pakistan’s upcoming trip to England, team manager Intikhab Alam has advised him not to respond to possible taunts from various quarters.
Speaking to AFP, Alam warned that the left-arm pacer should brace himself for provocation both on and off the field. The former Pakistan skipper also promised that there will be an increased emphasis on discipline.
The 74-year old asserted, “Amir cannot afford to put a foot wrong. He has to prove a point to the cricketing world that there will be no slip-up, make up for the five years he lost and do justice to his talent by bringing laurels.”
Bursting onto the scene as a promising teenager, Amir was found guilty of spot-fixing in the 2010 Lord’s Test. However, he found a way back into international cricket after serving a 5-year ban and an extensive rehabilitation program.
Also read: 5 reasons why Mohammad Amir's Test return is good news for cricket
During his first assignment since returning to Pakistan colors, the seamer was mocked in public by a stadium announcer with the sound of a cash register. Citing the incident, Alam believed that the key once again lay in not reacting to those jeers.
A wily all-rounder in his heydays, he admitted, “I fear people will provoke him on and off the field. But, he has been told to remain calm and do not react. That happened on his first tour when he was fielding on the boundary line. But, they die down once you don’t react.”
Alam added, “The message is clear for all the players and that is there will be no compromise on discipline and zero tolerance. Amir will have to follow strict code of conduct which stops him from meeting people and focus on cricket.”
However, he reminded that it was not going to be easy for Amir to meet the huge expectations placed upon him. Intikhab affirmed, “Since his return, Amir has been very good and has shown remorse of what he did. People expect miracles from him but he has been very good on the three tours he has had so far and we hope he will deliver to the best of his abilities in England.”
Pakistan begin their grueling tour with a couple of practice matches before the 4-Test series kick starts at the iconic Lord’s stadium on July 14.
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