“Fans were disheartened because of me. I want to make them happy and win them over again”
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Amir believes that “cricket suffered because of” the crimes he committed nearly five years ago.
Amir was handed a five-year ban after being found guilty of spot-fixing during a Test match against England in 2010.
While his ban was supposed to end in August 2015, the International Cricket Council (ICC) have decided to give Amir permission to play domestic cricket again since he has shown a huge amount of remorse.
“I believe cricket suffered because of me,” Amir had said in January 2014. “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.
“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.”
Since the Pakistan domestic season is almost complete, it has been reported that Amir could represent KESC in a few Grade 2 matches in the coming weeks.
“I always think when I am in my room, laying on my bed imagining being in ground with [a] ball in my hand,” he said. “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.
“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.”