13 Facts about Mohammad Amir: Pakistan’s contentious pace sensation

Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler, Mohammad Amir had become the hottest pace bowling prospect around the world by the year 2010 but his career was soon in ruins following charges of spot-fixing. Even before he went to England on an Under-19 tour, Amir had been picked out as a special talent by the legendary Wasim Akram at a pace camp he oversaw in Lahore in May 2007. Amir has now returned to international cricket after serving a five years ban and already showed signs that he is here to stay for long and make a huge impact for Pakistan.

1. Birth:

Mohammad Amir was born on 13^th April 1992 in the city of Gujar Khan in Punjab, Pakistan. Like most kids in the country, he played street cricket, often trying to emulate his hero, Wasim Akram.

2. Early Impressions:

In 2003, at the age of 11, Amir was spotted at a local tournament and invited to join the sports academy set up by the Bajwa in Rawalpindi. After being selected by Akram, Amir at the age of 15 went on a tour of England with the Pakistan U-19 cricket team and was one of the leading bowlers. taking 8 wickets at an average of 16.37.

3. Domestic cricket:

In March 2008, he made his domestic debut for the Rawalpindi Rams whilst concurrently representing the National Bank of Pakistan. His debut domestic season resulted in him taking 55 first-class wickets for NBP. He took a lot of top order wickets including those of players in the national side.

4. International debut:

Amir made his international debut against England in the group stages of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20. He took a wicket of and conceded only one run in his first international over. He continued to impress as the tournament continued, taking a wicket in his opening spell in 6 of the 7 games he played, including the final which Pakistan won by defeating Sri Lanka.

5. Test career:

After his successful 2009 T20 World Cup tournament, Amir was selected in the test squad for Pakistan for the series in Sri Lanka. He started his Test career well, taking six wickets in the match. During the Test match series against Australia in 2010, at the MCG, he took his first 5-wicket haul.

6. In England against Australia:

On 24 July 2010 he was influential in helping Pakistan win the 2nd Test match against Australia; the first Test match Pakistan had won against them in 15 years, which also drew the series 1–1. During this match, he took 7 wickets overall and was declared man of the match. Overall, in the second series, he was the leading wicket-taker of both teams with his 11 scalps.

7. Youngest to 50 Test wickets:

Amir became the youngest player to take 50 test wickets and also the youngest ever to take a 5-wicket Test haul in England. In an eventful series against England in 2010, he took 19 wickets, the highest of the Pakistanis and third highest overall at an outstanding average of 18.3. He also took 2 five-wicket hauls.

8. Unique record:

In the initial stages of the 2010 World T20, Amir took three wickets in a five wicket-maiden over in a match against Australia. The other two men were run out in the same over. This set a world record of three wickets for a bowler in Twenty20 and 5 wickets for a team in one over.

9. Spot fixing allegations:

In August 2010, the English newspaper News of the World published allegations that Amir and fellow bowler Mohammad Asif deliberately bowled no-balls during Pakistan’s 2010 tour of England in return for payment from a betting syndicate. On 2 September 2010, after the warm-up List A game between Pakistan and Somerset, the International Cricket Council announced that they had suspended Amir under the provisions of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code.

10. Breach of ban:

In June 2011, Amir played an innings of cricket for Addington 1743 Cricket Club in a Surrey Cricket League match against St Luke’s Cricket Club in breach of Article 6.5 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. Amir stated that he made enquiries in respect of the status of the match, and was informed that it was a friendly match and playing would not be in contravention of his ban. The club claimed that they had asked whether or not Amir could play for them, and were told that he could.

11. Criminal conviction:

On November 1, 2011, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were convicted at Southwark Crown Court, along with Amir who had previously pleaded guilty, of conspiracy to cheat at gambling and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments. He was sentenced to 6 months in Feltham Young Offenders Institution. Amir was later transferred to Portland Young Offenders Institute in Dorset, from which he was released after serving half of his six-month sentence.

12. Comeback to competitive cricket:

In March 2015, Amir made his domestic comeback playing for Omar Associates in the grade II patron’s trophy. He took a wicket in his first comeback over. In August, Amir was declared completely free to play all forms of cricket from 2nd September. After a successful Bangladesh Premier League, on 15 January 2016, he made his return to international cricket in a T20I match against New Zealand. Amir took a hat-trick in a Pakistan Super League match for Karachi Kings and went on to represent the country in the Asia Cup T20 and the World T20.

13. Stats:

His 14 Test matches have produced 51 wickets at an average of 29.00 with a best of 6/84 against England at Lord’s. He has taken 30 wickets in 17 ODIs and 34 wickets in 29 T20Is for Pakistan. The 24-year old is renowned for his pace and exceptional control of swing with the new ball as well reverse swing with the old ball. His record is expected to improve considering the talent he possesses.