Given Mohammad Amir’s recent struggles, could the World Cup be the golden boy’s last opportunity to shine? Does he even deserve to be there?
August 2010 will always be considered a dark time for Pakistani cricket. The team’s Test captain, Salman Butt, along with lead pacer Mohammad Asif and fresh-faced teenager Mohammad Amir, had been arrested as part of a sting operation which found the trio guilty of spot-fixing just months before the 2011 World Cup. The nation groaned collectively. It certainly wasn’t what they needed to hear just a year on from the horrific attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore – a tragedy that led to the unofficial suspension of Pakistan’s international hosting rights.
The groan was probably loudest for teenage sensation Amir, who was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for five years after pleading guilty to the charges levelled against him. Here was an immensely talented young bowler, drawing comparisons to legendary left-armers like Wasim Akram, whose path to greatness was suddenly obstructed.
#2009vs2019@iamamirofficial at 17 and 26! 🇵🇰#10YearChallenge pic.twitter.com/A4gRqtIl6b
— ICC (@ICC) January 15, 2019
Much was made of his return to domestic cricket in 2015. Considerably more noise was made after his return to the national set-up against New Zealand in 2016. Unsurprisingly, Amir has been ever-present in the side ever since. Perhaps his most memorable performance during this period – and possibly of his entire career – was his match-winning display against India in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final. Having dislodged Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli in his opening spell, Amir effectively dismantled India’s ravenous top-order on his own.
However, 22 months on, doubts have arisen over Amir’s place in the squad. The impending World Cup has led many to dismiss him under building pressure and fierce competition from the likes of Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Shinwari, and Junaid Khan. He’s no longer seen as the teenager who made a mistake. If anything, he’s now the 26 year-old who’s in danger of being Pakistan’s latest – if not greatest – what if story.
#OnThisDay in 2017, Mohammad Amir's sensational opening spell snuffed out India's hopes in the Champions Trophy final https://t.co/V6lL07pCZ0 pic.twitter.com/oxf8PqXQj7
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 18, 2018
Amir finds himself in a precarious situation; The captain and coach admire his ability, but his on-field performances have led to people questioning that ability. With the rise of Junaid and Usman in particular, Amir is in danger of missing out on the World Cup. To make matters worse, his numbers don’t make for great reading when compared to those rivalling him for a spot on the roster.
Are the numbers on his side?
Since the much-revered match in London against India, Amir has played 14 ODIs, picking up only 5 wickets along the way. His economy rate of 4.58 is the only thing going his way, but the lack of wicket-taking deliveries across all formats has proven worrisome. The impact of these statistics is amplified when one looks at Shinwari’s 28 wickets in 15 ODIs over a similar span of time. Even Junaid, who’s been far from a regular fixture, has taken 15 in his 12 outings. Add to this Faheem Ashraf’s emergence as a genuine all-rounder who, despite struggling to fulfil his batting potential, has a knack for taking crucial wickets.
Pakistan have named 23 'probables' for #CWC19 – which players do you think will make the final 15? 🇵🇰https://t.co/9coIfYAmbJ
— ICC (@ICC) April 5, 2019
Furthermore, the ease with which both Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali have usurped Amir as front-line choices makes it evident that Mohammad Amir is not guaranteed anything. The selection committee’s decision to rest Shaheen and Hasan for the recently concluded series against Australia and not afford Amir the same luxury reinforced this lingering uncertainty – that too before the biggest tournament of his career. Amir’s chances were dealt another blow when he was dropped after the first game against Australia and failed to reclaim his spot in the remaining games.
Facts such as these have led head coach Mickey Arthur to publicly state that, ‘“Amir’s form is a worry and nobody is more worried than Amir.’’ Despite constant backing from his coach, captain, and chief selector, the Mohammad Amir dilemma seems a huge one for Pakistan going into the World Cup. His recent figures are not in his favour, but the decision will inevitably have a bearing on Pakistan’s showing in the tournament. It’s now or never for the country’s golden boy to define his legacy and exploit the talent he obviously possesses.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur has admitted spearhead @iamamirofficial's form has been a worry, but he remains confident the left-armer has all the attributes to bounce back ahead of the @cricketworldcup 2019.
Read More ⬇️https://t.co/sGBHbnS3fn pic.twitter.com/kmXVY9kFfk— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 26, 2019