ICC World Cup 2019 | It’s good to see that Mohammad Amir is back, says Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan was all praise for Pakistan’s man of the moment Mohammad Amir after the quick picked up five wickets in an impressive bowling performance against Australia. Khan went on to discuss what Amir has been doing right and where the other Pakistani bowlers have faltered in the tournament.
Having not exactly had the best of bowling figures over the past couple of years, Amir was not even picked for Pakistan’s provisional squad for the World Cup. However, an embarrassing show by the country’s bowlers, especially the pacers, in a series against England that saw them get thrashed 4-0, forced the selectors to pick him for the final squad even though he was suffering from chicken pox at the time. Fortunately, he recovered in time and the move has paid great dividends so far.
“When he was leading up to the tournament, he was pretty much not being selected for the World Cup squad. They almost dropped him, it was a last minute inclusion and it turned out to be a good one. The conditions which are on offer in England, and usually that’s the key, so he’s been good. If there is a help in the wicket, he is always going to do well. These kinds of early starts for this kind of a tournament is going to go a long way for someone like Amir Khan,” Zaheer Khan said in a podcast on Cricbuzz Live.
Raw pace with an ability to swing the ball, apart from an ability to pitch the ball exactly where he wanted to, a compilation of his bowling videos would easily make one believe he is destined for great things. However, it has been a roller coaster ride for him but it looks like Mohammad Amir is finally living up to the promise and making his country proud on the biggest stage of them all where it matters the most.
“He’s got the potential, it’s just that last one year or so, he has been off colour, not really finding that shape. It is good to see that the shape is back, it is still not the best of shapes that we’ve seen him bowl with, but it’s certainly a good sign for his confidence. It’s going to help him grow from here, bring back what rhythm we have seen Amir bowl in and the kind of potential which he has,” Khan added.
Amir was sensational with the ball against the Kangaroos, picking up five wickets while only giving up 30 runs in his ten over spell. Yet, he was let down by his fellow bowlers as the opposition managed to score 307 despite Amir’s efforts, and Zaheer believes it was their lack of adapting to the conditions that cost them.
“When there is help in the wicket, it is important to slow things down. What he has been doing well in the past three matches is the fact that he is slowing things down. He is not looking to go, blast the batsman out, he is just making use of the conditions on offer. He’s coming in and looking to bowl in that area with the new ball and he’s going back to his variations only in a second spell. The first spell he is trying to be disciplined, he is trying to get the ball in the right areas. Pakistan’s bowling performance barring Amir is a classic example of even though there is a lot of help in the wicket, you still have to get the ball in the right areas,” the retired Indian concluded on the matter.
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