Dejected Mohammad Amir pledges to make strong comeback

Mohammad Amir

A despondent Mohammad Amir has spoken of his intention to appeal against the five-year playing ban handed to him by the ICC, and make a return to professional cricket.

In an interview with BBC Sport, the Pakistani youngster described the last six months as the worst of his life after intense media scrutiny preceded a lengthy ban determined by an anti-corruption tribunal in Doha on Sunday.

But, should his ban be upheld, the 18-year-old has pledged to learn from a harsh lesson of life, and make a comeback at the sport’s highest level.

“I just cannot describe how the last six months have been,” he said. “They have been the worst days in my life. When someone is seeing in front of them the end of his future – his career – and the rest of one’s life, what feelings can he have?

“Cricket is the most important thing in my life. I left my studies for cricket. I was so passionate about it and my entire family depends upon me and I depend on cricket and so the entire thing will be upset by this decision.

“We have the option of appealing which we will exercise. I will never lose hope about the future; I’ve never done that in my life. And I firmly believe in all adversity, something good always comes out … and I will do everything in my power to make a strong comeback.

“I have firm faith that God must have some lessons for me to learn from this. In a player’s career, when he has a bad patch, I will just take it in the same way. I will try to work hard, make a comeback and learn good things out of these bad days in my life.”

The decision to ban Amir, along with fellow seam-bowler Mohammad Asif and captain Salman Butt, was also backed by the Pakistani cricket board today. Butt had already confirmed immediately after the trial that they would all appeal against their sentences, but PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said: “It is regrettable and a sad reality which must be faced. I now hope this unfortunate saga is put to rest and we can concentrate on cricket."

Lyall Thomas

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