PCB chairman breaks silence on Mohammad Amirs return hopes to Pakistan | Cricket

With new PCB boss Najim Sethi allowing Mohammad Amir to train at the National High Performance Centre, many fans are expecting Pace to return to the Pakistan national team soon. Recently, even veteran bowler Wahab Riaz revealed that Amir could make a comeback and play in this year’s ODI Cricket World Cup.

On 26 July 2019, Amir announced his retirement from Test cricket to focus on the limited-overs game. Meanwhile, he retired from all forms on 17 December 2020, citing mental torture by management. During his career, Amir was also involved in spot-fixing, for which he was banned, and then made a comeback in international cricket after the ban was over.

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Still, the return of only 30-year-old Amir could be beneficial for Babar Azam and Co. and add to the rivalry between the pacers. Speaking to Arab News, PCB chief Sethi revealed that he is not stopping Amir from making a comeback to international cricket. “I will not stop Mohammad Amir if he wants to make the Pakistan team again,” he said.

Defending Amir, he stated that Amir pleaded guilty to spot-fixing and also helped the ICC in doing so, so he deserves a second chance. “A player who has pleaded guilty, helped the ICC put an end to match-fixing and corruption and then served a five-year ban to stay out of cricket deserves to come back,” he said.

In addition, Sethi attacked former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja: “Mohammad Amir believes that he is not being treated fairly by the previous PCB administration, including the selection committee and chairman Ramiz Raja.”

In the past, Raja has often stated that players facing fixing charges should not be allowed to make a comeback. “Ramiz Raja thinks that someone who has committed corruption in cricket should never be allowed to play in Pakistan again. This is not my view! I believe that someone who has paid the penalty should be allowed to make a comeback to Pakistan,” said Sethi.