Amir will be under intense scrutiny in New Zealand tour, says Ramiz

Pakistan’s head coach Waqar Younis expressed excitement on Thursday over the imminent return of Mohammad Amir following a five-year ban for spot-fixing.

However, the need of the hour is that cricket boards and management ensure that worldwide cricket is not jeopardised as Amir’s reintegration process gathers pace. He told me truth first time I asked him in England.

“I think time will tell”. It is not Amir, it is the theme, the larger picture that seems to upset them and it needed to heal properly; it is still pretty raw to some of them. “Fans – no matter where they are in Pakistan or England or wherever – were hurt, I know that and the most important goal is to win them all”. However, it’s topic to the granting of a visa by the New Zealand authorities.

Earlier, the tainted bowler was included in the 26-member national fitness camp in Lahore, whose return in the camp saw divided opinions coming out from the national team.

“I would like to thank Shahid Afridi for all of his support and guidance”, said Amir.

“I have very good memories of New Zealand when I toured there in 2009”, Amir recalled.

Azhar offered to resign over Amir’s presence at the camp, but was turned down. What he did has definitely damaged Pakistan’s reputation as a cricket team, and it was totally not in the mentality that cricket is played in. He has registered his annoyance; he has made his point felt. Afridi said that they were right in their place as team had suffered because of spot fixing. Since his ban was relaxed in April a year ago and completely lifted in September, he has seemingly picked up where he left off, taking 86 wickets in 21 domestic four-day and Twenty20 games. “Unlike the rest who kept lying for two-three years!” Rahat Ali has been a workhorse at times, but is not an automatic selection. You might like it or not but there is no escaping the fact that the convicted spot fixer is in the Pakistan team and will soon be seen playing global cricket, provided he gets his visa. There will obviously be the pressure of not bowling a no-ball. Let’s not forget, Pakistan go and play in New Zealand, who play T20 and 50-overs cricket in their own brand.

Amir has a top score of 73 against New Zealand in ODIs, and has a couple of fifties in first-class cricket as well.

Amir, once regarded as the hottest property in worldwide cricket, remains a polarising figure for Pakistan’s cricket-mad public and even some teammates.