“Cricket remains my first love and passion”
Image courtesy of: The Australian
Disgraced Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Amir is set to make his acting debut in a local film called Blind Love as he is banned from playing international and domestic cricket till August 2015.
Amir revealed that he agreed to act in the film since he found the script interesting and enticing.
“Cricket remains my first love and passion, and whenever I am allowed to play I will be the first to grab the chance,” Amir told PTI. “But in the meantime I have become frustrated doing nothing and agreed to do this film in which my love interest will be from India.
“It will be a while before the film goes on floor but I have given them my availability.”
Amir was banned from playing cricket for five years after he was indicted in a match-fixing scandal, along with former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, who is thought to be ringleader, and pace bowler Mohammad Asif.
Butt was given a ten-year ban, with five years suspended, while Asif was slapped with a seven-year ban, with two years suspended.
Amir has repeatedly apologised for his actions, which involved him bowling a number of big no-balls during a Test match against England at Lord’s, and has pleaded with the cricketing community to forgive him.
However, some players and pundits have called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ban him for life, while others like Australia all-rounder Shane Watson felt that he was coerced into the scandal by Butt and feel sorry for him.
The 22-year-old is still hoping to represent Pakistan in the future and feels his dreams will be fulfilled once again following the induction of Shaharyar Khan as the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“Shaharyar sahib has given a very encouraging statement about me after taking charge and I am hopeful something definite will come out in October,” Amir said.
The PCB have requested the ICC to allow Amir to train at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore and play domestic cricket before his ban ends on numerous occasions.
But, with the ICC set to make amendments to their anti-corruption laws by October, Amir could find himself playing domestic cricket for the first time in over four years.