“We should give him another opportunity”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis believes that left-arm pace bowler Mohammad Amir should be given another opportunity to play international cricket.

Amir was banned for five years after being indicted in a spot-fixing scandal during a Test match against England in 2010. However, his ban concluded in September and he has since played domestic cricket in Pakistan and is currently representing the Chittagong Vikings in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Younis admitted that he has been paying close attention to Amir and added that he has been impressed with his performances as of late.

“[Amir] has served his punishment and he deserves to come back in the [cricketing] community and enhance his profession,” Younis said. “He is in very good form … he has proved to the ICC and he has proved to the PCB that he is on the right track, and it’s our responsibility that we should give him another opportunity.”

However, Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez refused to sign with the Vikings as he did not want to be on the same team as Amir, but it is unclear whether the rest of the national team will welcome back the 23-year-old with open arms.