Mohammad Amir would be given chance: PCB

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board and coach Waqar Younis on Thursday indicated that disgraced left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir would soon be given a chance to play for the national team again.

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan told the media in Lahore that the Board was considering giving a comeback chance to Amir, who served a five-year ban for spot-fixing which expired last September.

“I think Amir has done enough with his performances to warrant a place in the Pakistan team and we are considering him. But the final decision will be with the national selection committee,” Khan said.

“But the important thing is that we first would like to speak to him and convey to him clearly that his behaviour and attitude will matter a lot if he is to play for Pakistan again. We have to guide him to keep a modest behaviour.”

Reminded about the recent statement from senior player Muhammad Hafeez about not wanting to share the dressing room with Amir and also about reports that some other players were also not keen to see him back, Khan said there was a need to discuss everything.

“I think what we need to do is have a meeting with Amir, selectors, team management and the players to sort things out and make some things very clear to Amir,” he added.

“The PCB does feel that if Amir has learnt his lesson and is performing well he deserves a second chance. If the selectors say they want him we will put the matter before the Board of Governors,” the PCB chief said.

Waqar also said he was in favour of forgiving Amir and giving him a second chance.

“He has served five years of punishment and he deserves a second chance. There is a need to communicate clearly with him but that can be done,” he said.

Waqar also played down reports about players not wanting the pacer back in the team, stating these matters can be settled through meetings.

Amir is presently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League and has again impressed with his performances. He also ended up with 50 wickets in the non first class qualifying rounds and than the first class main rounds of the premier Quaid-e-Azam trophy tournament before going to Bangladesh.

Amir said on Geo Super channel on Thursday that he understood that some players were not keen to play with him when asked about the Hafeez incident.

“I respect Hafeez bhai as a senior player and he has every right to his opinion. But in the BPL so far the franchise fellow players including my Pakistani colleagues have all been very supportive and are encouraging me,” he said.