Writing for Sky Sports, Saj Sadiq discusses the complex issues related to the return to cricket for Pakistan's left arm pacer Mohammad Amir, who is currently serving a 5 year ban for his involvement in spot-fixing.

By Saj Sadiq (22nd February, 2015)

The Imran Khan of today is seemingly a man subsumed with a mission to improve the lot of the ordinary Pakistanis.

Depending on whichever side of the political divide one belongs to, Imran is either the messiah that will lead the country away from the precipice of disaster or a power hungry ego maniac who will go to extraordinary lengths to gain his share of power.

But there is no argument about is his status as Pakistan’s legendary cricket star.

This is why, whenever the Great Khan finds the time to speak about cricket, the followers of the game listen in unison and hang on to every word he says.

This is also why, when Imran stated that Mohammad Amir was even more talented than another Pakistani great, Wasim Akram at the same young age, there was really not much room for argument about the potential of the 17-year-old when he hit the international scene in 2009 during the series against Sri Lanka.

Armed with the ability to make the ball talk at a considerable speed, Amir continued to amaze cricket audiences and aficionados in equal measure until August 2010.

It was during the fourth Test of the 2010 tour of England that the man slated to pick up the baton of Pakistan’s fast bowling riches moved from the status of a crowd favourite to the object of hatred as his involvement in spot fixing was brought to the fore.

Much like a tearful Michael Holding, who could not hold back his emotions whilst commentating on television, the cricket-playing world watched in horror, dismay and anger as details emerged of the then 18-year-old Amir’s involvement in this ghastly scandal.

The cricket watching community demanded punishment for the accused. The International Cricket Council acted with unison to ban the three accused players, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and Amir, for a period of five years.

Amir, who was also imprisoned for six months in England, was left to confront the harsh reality of being labelled a criminal for the rest of his life and also the distinct possibility that he would never be allowed to resume his international cricket career.

With his reputation tarnished, the young fast bowler set about repairing the damage by launching a campaign to offer a human face to his personality by appearing on television shows including the famous interview with Mike Atherton where he accepted his guilt and sought to explain the reasons behind his actions.

He also became a voice for the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) by appearing in videos and classrooms to share his experience and help deter young sportsmen from following the same destructive path he had.

In January 2015, the ICC under careful consideration of all mitigating circumstances and Amir’s cooperation with the ACSU decided to allow the now 22-year-old to compete in domestic cricket in Pakistan ahead of the expiry of his ban in September 2015.

Prodigal

The news of his impending reintroduction to the world of cricket was met with a mixture of disgust and encouragement in Pakistan and around the world. The two schools of thought divided over whether a tainted Amir could ever be allowed the privilege of stepping onto the hallowed cricket fields versus those who claimed that that the young man had served his time for the crime and had shown enough in his behaviour to be offered a shot at redemption.

To many, such as former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja, the reintroduction of Amir into cricket at any level was unthinkable and would send the wrong message for any others contemplating a similar crime.

Ramiz’s views are also shared by many in the public who felt that the humiliation the actions of Amir and his cohorts brought upon the Pakistani nation were unforgiveable and akin to treason.

Echoing Raja's sentiments, recently Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez stated that players who have brought shame to Pakistan should not be accepted. The thoughts of Raja and Hafeez are undoubtedly backed by other current and former Pakistani cricketers and Amir's return to the Pakistan dressing room is one that will definitely not be plain-sailing for him.

It was, thus, no surprise that the ICC’s announcement of the relaxation of the ban a few months ahead of the expiry date was met with howls of anger on social media and fan forums around the world. The terms “shameless”, “fixer” and “cheat” were the common refrain to be found amongst those opposed to Amir’s return.

However, in equal measure were the cries of joy at the impending return of the prodigal son to the fold. To them, he was simply an errant young man who had been led astray by evil influences but was now a reformed person, ready to resume his rightful role in the country’s best loved sport.

Amir’s fans and followers seemed to never lose hope of his return, according him celebrity status akin to most modern-day pop stars. Pictures of Amir’s latest hair cut or his style of dressing or him being spotted eating dinner were frequently shared and discussed with excitement during his years in the wilderness.

Whatever one’s views on his crime and its punishment, the fact is that Pakistan never forgot Amir. The love affair with the talent and flair that this young man offered to Pakistan cricket was etched in the common psyche of the nation. This is exactly why the matter of his return to cricket evokes such a strong response.

Like Pakistan’s most well respected and famous all-rounder, Imran Khan, who has no reservations in welcoming Amir back to the fold, many Pakistanis will be looking forward to seeing the fast-bowler back in action in Pakistani colours but there are some questions which only time and Amir can answer.

There will be many young talented cricketers in Pakistan who will be wondering if their hard work in the past four or five years will come to nought if Amir is given preferential treatment in his return to international cricket.

For many, there will also be doubts about Amir’s fitness and his ability to produce the same magical performances with the ball as he would have done had he remained in the game for the past few years.

Whilst the young fast-bowler has started playing club level cricket in Lahore and is undergoing a fitness regime at the National Cricket Academy, the fact remains that only with a solid domestic performance under his belt will a return as early as October of this year be possible at international level.

Amir’s bowling was a sight to behold until the time he last played for Pakistan in 2010, and his return will inspire many emotions amongst the followers of cricket. For the moment, Amir is busying himself to prepare for the day he walks on to the field to represent his country once again. His return may also be helped by the current state of Pakistan’s bowling resources which have failed to impress in recent months.

Amir was a unique talent who won the hearts of millions. Whether those millions of admirers around the world will forgive him for his misdemeanours remains to be seen. What is certain though is that the Pakistan cricket team who are currently in dire straits at the World Cup needs Mohammad Amir back to his best as soon as possible.

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