Shoaib Akhtar wants Mohammed Amir to return and, potentially, win the World Twenty20 for Pakistan. But he also acknowledges and recognises the strength of opinion of those who do not want to play with him.
Of all those who have spoken on Amir’s return to cricket, which gathers pace with almost every appearance he makes, it is the perspective of Shoaib’s which is worth listening to most.
On Thursday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan coach Waqar Younis both endorsed the idea that Amir is likely to return to the national side, but admitted it could be a delicate process of reintegration.
Watch: Shoaib Akhtar speaks in Abu Dhabi about India-Pakistan and Mohammed Amir
Shoaib’s international career was bookended by two corruption scandals that engulfed many of his teammates but never touched him. In fact, his spotless navigation of the many temptations of corruption through his career is one of the badges he wears particularly proudly, and an issue he feels strongly about.
But he was no stranger to disciplinary issues, once incurring a five-year ban from the PCB for indiscipline, among other suspensions, punishments and run-ins with teammates in an eventful career.
So the inherent greyness in the situation is clear to him. “I can understand the other side, of those people who really don’t want him to play,” he said in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
“I really understand, I really respect that criticism that once you destroy the country’s name, that he should not get a second chance, I respect that opinion, I think they are right.
“But at the same time, the other side, those people who say, ‘he has served his sentence, he has served his time in jail and if he does it again’, [then punish him], then I agree with those people as well.”
Among others, Mohammed Hafeez has been a vocal proponent of the argument for not letting Amir return. He has said publicly he would not feel comfortable in sharing a dressing room with the player, who served a five-year ICC ban as well as a jail sentence for his part in spot-fixing at Lord’s in 2010.
Hafeez was one of the players in that 2010 team who bore the brunt of intense media scrutiny of the side in the aftermath, as well as no little criticism and accusation. At least one other player in the Pakistan side is also said to be uneasy with Amir’s return, though, significantly, the two senior players in the Test set-up – Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan – are in the camp that feels he deserves a second chance.
But Shoaib warned Amir of how difficult the reintegration will be. Already Amir has had a run-in with former Pakistan batsman Faisal Iqbal at domestic level, where the latter was reported to have called Amir “a thief” (it was said to be in response to Amir sledging him first).
Read more: Osman Samiuddin's Sporting Read on Misbah-ul-Haq and the inner workings of a captain's mind
“There will be a lot of mistrust in him, every time he is going to run in, there will be a billion eyes judging him,” Shoaib said. “It’s not going to be easy on him, I don’t know whether he knows that or doesn’t. If I was in his place, God forbid I shouldn’t be, but I would have been so scared to be in his place now.”
When he was still playing and before Amir was banned, Shoaib had actually once approached Amir, to offer him advice about the pitfalls of the fame and celebrity Amir was approaching.
That move was rebuffed which, given the public perception of Shoaib at the time, is not entirely surprising. But in hindsight of the gravity of Amir’s misdemeanours and the strength of Shoaib’s opinions on fixing, it is worth wondering what might have been had Amir taken up Shoaib on the offer.
“My opinion is help the child,” said Shoaib. “Let’s guide him once again, tell him what is the right thing to do. I understand opinions from both sides, they are both right, both saying the right things.
“It depends on the PCB, as to how they now take this to the next level. If they want that Amir should play, then get the trust of the team, speak to teammates and tell them be easy on him, let’s trust him once again and then take it forward.
“I don’t mind if Hafeez is saying or any other guys who don’t want to play with him or share a dressing room with him, I totally understand that. But having said all that, he deserves a second chance.”
The final seal of approval came later, in discussing Pakistan’s chances in the World Twenty20. Having returned to domestic cricket and taken wickets, Amir has been in irrepressible form in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) where he has come across a more global standard of competition and not looked out of place at all.
Pakistan’s limited overs sides, at the same time, have been deeply unimpressive and their bowling, in particular, has suffered. Last week they were clean swept by England in a three-match Twenty20 series, as well as losing the ODI series 1-3.
Amir returning for the World Twenty20 – or even before – is easy to imagine having a beneficial aspect on-field at least.
“Pakistan need to get their act and combination right,” Shoaib said. “It is not rocket science. You got to find a matchwinner, guide him, train him, put him out there. And make him understand the game and how to win it.
“I want Pakistan to win [the World Twenty20 in India], it’s the most dangerous side. If they get their combo right, I think they have a fair chance of winning it. Play more spinners – three spinners and two fast bowlers. Having said all this, get Amir back in side because what’s more important is to win the world cup. I’m sure Amir can run in and win the world cup for you.”
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