“My focus is on domestic cricket at the moment”
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan left-arm pace bowler Mohammad Amir has revealed that he is solely focused on his domestic career at the moment as his chances of getting into the national team right now are slim at best.
Amir made his domestic comeback this year after serving a five-year ban for his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010.
“My focus is on domestic cricket at the moment and it would be premature for me to start thinking about when or if I will play for Pakistan again,” Amir told PakPassion.net. “I’m not worrying over when I will play for Pakistan, instead I am just focussing on my domestic form and then leaving the rest to the selectors.
“I have to take things step by step and not try to get ahead of myself. International cricket is a tough environment it’s not a joke. There is a lot of pressure on you in international cricket and I feel that I have to ensure that I am fully ready before I’m talked about for an international recall.”
Since making his domestic return in March, Amir has taken five wickets for Rawalpindi Region in the Haier Mobile T20 Cup before going on to claim seven more victims for Sui Southern Gas Company, which included a five-wicket haul against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited.
“I’m really satisfied with my seven wickets against ZTBL in my first four-day match after my ban,” Amir said. “It couldn’t have gone any better really on a very flat track. I feel as if day by day, my bowling is improving. As you will have seen in the tournament in Rawalpindi my pace is increasing and my confidence is higher now so the signs are very good.”
Amir is now aiming to play as many four-day matches as possible as it will help him get back into shape and allow him to rediscover his rhythm while bowling for longer spells.
“With fitness comes rhythm and confidence; all three work in tandem. The more cricket I play, the fitter and stronger I feel and that helps me technically and mentally. I’m reaching a very important phase in my comeback soon and that is playing four-day cricket for the first time,” he said. “When I play four-day cricket that will be a true test of my levels of fitness and whether I still have the ability to swing the ball both ways. I’m feeling stronger with each match but as I say, playing four-day cricket will be a sterner test of my abilities.”
The 23-year-old also took the opportunity to once again thank the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the fans for their constant support.
“I really appreciative of the ICC’s decision for allowing me the opportunity to return to cricket before my ban was due to end,” he said. “In addition, I’m also very grateful to the Pakistan Cricket Board for allowing me to play domestic cricket ahead of my ban and to use their facilities at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
“I can’t thank the crowds in Rawalpindi and around Pakistan enough for their overwhelming support wherever I have played. It’s a major boost for me and for my confidence.”