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As I said, Misbah has a grudge against Amir because of his retirement from Test cricket.
As long as Misbah and Waqar are in the management, he will not get selected unless he gets on his knees and begs forgiveness.
Maybe he should get on his knees and beg forgiveness if indeed playing for Pakistan means so much to him, but it doesn't
He doesn’t have to beg anyone. He hasn’t committed a crime.
Do you think he warrants a place in ththe side based on recent form or performances ?
As I said, Misbah has a grudge against Amir because of his retirement from Test cricket.
As long as Misbah and Waqar are in the management, he will not get selected unless he gets on his knees and begs forgiveness.
Maybe he should get on his knees and beg forgiveness if indeed playing for Pakistan means so much to him, but it doesn't
I was watching the presser, Waqar seemed to have genuinely no idea what the journalist was talking about. It was more along the lines of “Workload? Is that the reason? Isn’t he playing in Sri Lanka right now?”
I believe there has been gross miscommunication between Amir and the present management, and they have no idea about his own reasons. From their perspective, he’s not bowling as well as he used to.
Amir mentioned a few days ago in an interview that he’s still waiting for the PCB to call him, and he’s hurt Misbah hasn’t done so since he was dropped. Is that the right attitude to have? If there’s a misconception that Amir thinks the management have of him, why is he not trying to clear it up? I believe at this stage Amir’s too far into the deep end, after retweeting and sharing a lot of disrespectful comments towards the management - that’s not the right attitude.
If you are picking an awful bowler like Musa or that street bowler Rauf, it is hard to justify Amir’s exclusion.
They are fit enough to be selected, yes skill set they are not upto Amir level but what can they do with Amir if he bowls 2 overs and can’t play the remaining overs + his form is very bad, not in rhythm gives away too many runs.. I would play any fit bowler in his place rather than for his skills on paper.
If he serious about playing intl cricket then go back to domestic perform, prove the fitness and then come back ebeough of his complaints of not managing workloads. It’s been more than a year now since he retired from tests.
Surely playing in some T20 leagues does not equate to playing Test cricket.
Call the decision selfish or sensible - but the fact is that Amir will not be bowling anywhere near the amount of overs now that he has retired from Tests.
Well then he has to show some return to World Class form. Getting cheap wickets with batsmen slogging in the death overs and not getting world class wickets up front, not swinging the ball at 140-145 km/hr plus and instead bowling cutters at 127-132 km/hr is not going to invite confidence
Isn’t it the job of coaches and the administration to back their players and assets? Why waste him like this out of ego? It is so ridiculously unprofessional of Waqar and Misbah.
Surely playing in some T20 leagues does not equate to playing Test cricket.
Call the decision selfish or sensible - but the fact is that Amir will not be bowling anywhere near the amount of overs now that he has retired from Tests.
Amir is simply not needed anymore. it's good he retired, allowing his fanbois to realize he was never that good to begin with. He can be a T20 mercenary and make some quick cash, because he wasn't gonna last much longer at the international level anyways.
If you are desperately concerned about winning your place in the side, the last thing you would do is to public-ally criticize your coaches and blatantly disrespect them. I am surprised the PCB has not taken disciplinary action against Amir for his numerous transgressions.
Sarkar Waqar Younis? A spot fixing over rated trundler calling a legend Sarkar, pathetic
This fitness issue is overblown. He is still fit enough for ODIs and T20Is. Misbah simply doesn’t want to select him.
Lol, and who replaces him? Musa? Husnain? Rauf? Give these 3 a couple of more games and you’ll all be saying Amir is the best we’ve got.
Wahab will be finished in a year or so, Hassan Ali has injury issues, Rumman Raees has disappeared, it’s only a matter of time that Shaheen picks up an injury with the way he’s being managed.
Mohammad Amir can make twice as much money in the IPL than playing for PAK. Facts are we have names but none of those have the skills that will be a threat to the top teams.
Playing against weak teams has given our fans false hope in these T20 merchants.
But then the case for his selection is based on performance in those same leagues and not domestic performances. How will you ***** fitness for international cricket, particularly ODIs, based on these t20 leagues?
Sameen Gul and Naseem Shah are good prospects for tests. Hasnain and Rauf are good prospects for LOIs. Amir bowling straight 130 kph rockets will never succeed. Maybe only in England.
Even Musa isn't a worse option. Both him and Amir would receive a beating against any decent opposition but at least Musa has potential. Amir is supposed to be in his prime.
As a huge fan of Amir and a massive proponent of his comeback and sticking with him while he finds his way back, he has let me and many many others down hugely! and he goes around looking for sympathy . . he has been looking for sympathy since his return . . it just took me a while to realize this . .
When he's got the appreciation from the likes of Kohli and Smith, then how else do you justify his record since his comeback? How do you justify his lackluster performances in general outside a couple of flashes in the pan showing us "what could have been" . . When he has that level of talent and skill to be respected by the very best, there was only one other thing that was needed for him to succeed . . and unfortunately, its now clear he failed to do that one thing i.e. put his head down and work hard and fix his issues!
See, the problem is . . Amir has made excuses after excuses since his come back! even when he says something thats perhaps genuine (like issues with Pakistan's rotation policy), its just difficult to take him seriously . .
A few examples:
1. Amir has lost so much pace . . Why is Amir bowling military medium now? He wasn't when he left in 2010 . . and he wasn't when he came back in 2016 . . his pace has progressively dropped and now he is bowling 130 kph . .
Amir in 2016: I have been out of cricket for 5 years . . cut me some slack
Amir in 2017: i have been out of cricket for 5 years . . cut me some slack
Amir in 2018/19/20: repeat cycle . .
2. Amir has lost his ability to swing the ball which made him so dangerous . . the "flash in the pan" performances come back when he somehow rediscovers that shape . . the shape that Trent boult was envious of early in his career . . I am no expert but those who are such as the likes of Akram clearly pointed out technical flaws . . There has been no improvement . . in fact, I dont even know where he has gone, what expert advice he has sought, where has he put in the effort to work on those technical issues . . if you know, please enlighten me . . and Amir's responses?
Amir in 2017: I was out of cricket for 5 years, cut me some slack . .
Amir in 2018/19/20: repeat cycle . .
3. Amir is clearly not fit enough . . that seems to hamper him giving his 100% . . perhaps thats why he isnt able to put effort . . maybe his "back" isn't going through in his delivery stride . . Amir himself alluding to fitness issues . . Amir is playing too much cricket . . Amir is playing T20, ODI and Tests (without being exceptional in any format to be honest) . .
Amir in 2016: I have been out of cricket for 5 years, cut me some slack . . body will take time . .
Amir in 2017: I have been out of cricket for 5 years . . my body isn't the same anymore
Amir in 2018/19/20: I have been out of cricket for 5 years . . repeat cycle
I won't continue because you get the gist . . the same happened with the will he/won't he retire from test cricket . . again due to fitness, and out of cricket for 5 years, I am playing so much, expectations are so high, etc. its like he's in a different era/career than starc, cummins, rabada, boult, bhumrah, archer, shami, et al.
The fact is . . there is no evidence of Amir going the extra mile to warrant special treatment for him! the fact is, that for all his talent . . it is clear that either his heart wasn't in cricket anymore or he just didn't want to work hard . . either way, it hurt the team . .
Amir unfortunately has come across as someone who has wanted to take the easy way out at every opportunity . . and I repeat . . as a massive fan of his bowling and talent, I am bitterly disappointed in him . . And I don't give a ____ if he wants to play test cricket or not . . obviously, I would have liked him to, but that's not even the point . . the fact is, the guy just never seem to really put in the hard yards and internalize the work ethic required to succeed as an elite player . .
The result is in front of us . .
Therefore, I have absolutely zero sympathy for Amir . .
My only problem is - my entire rant falls flat when I see folks like Musa getting selected ahead of Amir, because I could have huge issues with Amir . . but Musa will never be good enough to warrant a space in the squad ahead of Amir . . (actually, in my opinion Musa will never be good enough to be anywhere near the Pakistan squad, but that's another story)
It’s only been a year since the WC, where Amir was the leading wicket taker for our team. And, if you think the likes of Musa, Husnain and Sameen can take 17+ wickets in a WC then I really have nothing else to say.
It's all about what the selectors make of his performances in tournaments such as LPL, which to be fair isn't a league blessed with batting talent.
What makes you think it is ego? Any coach who sees a player not even trying or giving bare minimum will never support them
Despite of all of Amir's faults, Waqar really needs to shut up about this issue and not give out such confrontational statements.
Waqar needs to understand that he's part of the Pak management and not just an ex cricketer. Amir can very well still play for Pak in the future and for a coach to give out these statements for such a player is highly unprofessional.
Why can't he just ignore these questions or direct them towards the selectors?
Waqar truly is an incompetent individual who still hasn't understood the do's and don'ts of a professional role.
That's a good post, but you are missing the Elephant in the Room.As a huge fan of Amir and a massive proponent of his comeback and sticking with him while he finds his way back, he has let me and many many others down hugely! and he goes around looking for sympathy . . he has been looking for sympathy since his return . . it just took me a while to realize this . .
A few examples:
1. Amir has lost so much pace . . Why is Amir bowling military medium now? He wasn't when he left in 2010 . . and he wasn't when he came back in 2016 . . his pace has progressively dropped and now he is bowling 130 kph . .
Amir in 2016: I have been out of cricket for 5 years . . cut me some slack
Amir in 2017: i have been out of cricket for 5 years . . cut me some slack
Amir in 2018/19/20: repeat cycle . .
2. Amir has lost his ability to swing the ball which made him so dangerous . .
Amir in 2017: I was out of cricket for 5 years, cut me some slack . .
Amir in 2018/19/20: repeat cycle . .
3. Amir is clearly not fit enough . . . .
Amir in 2016: I have been out of cricket for 5 years, cut me some slack . . body will take time . .
Amir in 2017: I have been out of cricket for 5 years . . my body isn't the same anymore
Amir in 2018/19/20: I have been out of cricket for 5 years . . repeat cycle
Therefore, I have absolutely zero sympathy for Amir . .
My only problem is - my entire rant falls flat when I see folks like Musa getting selected ahead of Amir, because I could have huge issues with Amir . . but Musa will never be good enough to warrant a space in the squad ahead of Amir . . (actually, in my opinion Musa will never be good enough to be anywhere near the Pakistan squad, but that's another story)
It’s only been a year since the WC, where Amir was the leading wicket taker for our team. And, if you think the likes of Musa, Husnain and Sameen can take 17+ wickets in a WC then I really have nothing else to say.
That's a good post, but you are missing the Elephant in the Room.
Mohammad Amir was not a 17 year old when he made his Test debut in 2009, and he is not a 28 year old now.
Like Waqar Younis he is an age cheat. Waqar would have us believe that he made his Test debut himself aged 18, lost his pace at the age of 25 and had a bowling average the wrong side of 30 from the age of 28!
As soon as you understand that Mohammad Amir was probably born in 1988 and not 1992, everything makes sense.
He was not an 18 year old kid when he was banned and a 23 year old youngster when he returned.
He was almost certainly 22 when he was banned, and when he came back aged 27 he had the highest workload in world cricket for the first 2 years, which is why he lost his pace.
At the 2019 Word Cup Mohammad Amir was exceptional. But he was probably 31, not 27. And he was exceptional because he had had his private deal with Inzamam and Mickey Arthur, which went something like this:
"All 3 of us recognize that Mohammad Amir is in the later stages of his career, and is a swing bowler of fast-medium pace and short stature. He is not going to get red ball wickets in Asia, and we are flogging a dead horse if we waste what he has left in the tank on trying to get him to bowl there.
In future, we agree that Amir will be a white ball specialist, who will be available for Tests in England, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand only. This should enable him to retain his remaining pace and fitness for the maximum possible time".
And it worked. In his final 3 Test series Mohammad Amir averaged 21.00 with the ball.
The whole reason for the deal between Amir, Inzamam and Arthur was that Misbah had overbowled him in the first 12 months of his Test return, and Amir had ended up with chronic injuries and reduced pace.
But when Misbah was lined up to take over BOTH the Inzamam AND the Arthur positions, Amir realized that the end was night.
I don't like that Amir spot-fixed. And I don't like that his age cheating got him out of going to adult prison.
But I think he has been horribly treated since 2016, horrible as in "killing the goose that lays the golden eggs".
I disagree with the treatment part. I think he has been treated as well as anyone in Pakistan cricket. Some great legends of the past have been treated much worse and he was only a "potential" legend when he cheated. You add to that the fact that he has also definitely cheated on his age as well, it is hard to have any sympathy for him.
There is also a less tangible aspect of this saga which I think may have an impact on the future generation: Would we want to see a trundler setting a bench mark for future pacers to follow? I for one think it may just be a blessing in disguise. I wouldn't want youngsters to try to emulate him and bowl military medium just to preserve their "legacy". I rather see a few out and out fast bowlers (ideally with skills) steaming in and having a crack at the stumps, toes and the helmets.
I think we are at cross purposes with what we are discussing.
I don't care whether Mohammad Amir at the age of (I think) 32 gets treated with respect. He has done a lot to deserve NOT to be treated with respect.
The issue for me is that he is probably a year older than Trent Boult - who is of a similar height and pace - and we saw a year ago in Australia that Boult himself is at an age at which he has a lot of miles on the clock and can only perform if HIS workload is managed carefully.
If you carefully and professionally manage the workloads of people like Boult and Amir you can probably eke out another 120 wickets in 30 Tests after their 30th birthday. (Boult has 26 wickets in 8 Tests at an average of 31.92 since his 30th birthday, compared with 222 wickets at 28.14 before his 30th birthday - a deterioration of almost 11% already).
Amir and Boult do not deserve managed workloads because they command respect. They deserve managed workloads because they can still deliver victories that other bowlers cannot so long as the wear and tear on their bodies is strictly managed.
I pointed this out on a previous thread, how Amir has been playing in all these random T20 Leagues and still complaining about his workload and whatnot in these interviews he has.
First of all, who in their right mind can call Waqar Younis, arguably one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game, "sarkar". Is he in his right mind? Amir is utterly pathetic and a comparison with Waqar Younis is like comparing a broken stick to a sharpened samurai sword. How does he dare to bring such an attitude towards our legends and greats of the game.
How does he have tha audacity to claim workload issues and retire from a format without any information being given to the PCB? How does he claim that his workload prevents him from doing well when he is clearly unfit and cannot bowl above 140kph?
This workload claim is a joke, an injured man would have the common sense to rest, so if a person has a high workload, the obvious and practical decision would be to take some rest, not retire from a format and play random T20 leagues around the world.
I respect Amir for what he has done for Pakistan cricket, but moving forward, this attitude and this excuse will be the reason that he won't play for Pakistan again.
Should have stuck with Junaid Khan and Shinwari instead of Mohammad Amir.
It truly is sad to see one of the nations brightest hopes become some medium pace T20 mercenary with no respect for the people and board that helped him back on his feet after his own carelessness and pathetic mistake.
If Wasim Akram was a bowling coach, he would have definitely made some quality bowlers for us.
The problem is the assumption that he gave up test cricket because of workload management. How many test matches does Pakistan play in an year? 5 at most? That is not enough to warrant a break down for a fast bowler. If Amir was serious about workload management, he would not be doing his mercenary gigs for every cricket league around the world. While I agree workload management is an issue that PCB in general doesnt understand or wants to implement (I have only seen Naseem being managed somewhat differently), I feel that this issue with Amir is not about workload management and more about Amir's attitude.
Waqar Younis speaking to media:
“Workload is not the reason why Mohammad Amir has been dropped or why he has decided to not play Test cricket because he's still playing different leagues"
So What is Waqar implying here?
Here is Amir's reply to that:
View attachment 105221
Trust me, he will be back in squad for T20WC just like WC19. Public/media pressure will get him back in the team and Amir knows this fact. So, he will collect his paycheck playing leagues and show up to play WC. AB Devilliers wanted to follow the same model but SA closed the gates on him. I am looking forward to see if Misbah would give in to the media pressure.
This whole loyalty and patriotism stuff is nonsense anyway.
You are not sending Amir to the borders to fight soldiers.
You are selecting him to play cricket matches and even if he is not ready to lay his life down for the country which most of us are not anyway, he will still do his job that he is paid for.
Those who complain about his lack of intensity and passion. Well, I would take his lack of intensity and passion over Rauf screaming like a madman.
What good is intensity and passion when you are not international material. At least Amir has some pedigree, experience and is respected by the greatest batsmen of this generation.
The other is just a street cricket bowler with a grand total of 7 FC wickets to his name.
There are a few extreme comparisons in your post. Yes these guys are not going on borders to defend the country, but any organisation in the world would want their employees to be loyal. That loyalty does not mean that they bleed themselves to death but it does mean you consider the negative impact of your decisions on the organisation. For example, if I were managing a team towards a tight deadline and just before delivering the project, I jump ship ... that is going to have a negative impact on the company. All he should have done was talk to the management and collaborate to come up with a plan.
Rauf vs Amir is an extreme comparison, Rauf looks like a jerk and he was called out here in Australia for his extreme celebration (slitting the throat). No one can condone this needless passion/aggression. However guys like Naseem, Hasnain and to some extent Musa are not as skillful as Amir but they definitely give all they have got.
What tight deadline and what project? Amir retired from Test cricket.
Should Amir have retired within 3 years of making a comeback? Probably not, but that is his compulsion.
Like many, I also felt that Amir was being ungrateful because PCB tried very hard to bring him back and selected him again right away as soon as he was unavailable.
However, when you think about it, PCB fast-tracked him because they needed him, not because they cared about him. If he was in his 30s, he would been treated like Butt and Asif.
So Amir has no reason to be thankful.
As long as he hasn’t retired from ODIs and T20Is and you do not have better alternatives, you should pick him instead of proving some useless point.
Amir has no reason to be thankful?
Are you serious he was afforded a chance after literally getting caught fixing live on TV. Anyone who is afforded such an opportunity should be thankful till his last breath
This whole loyalty and patriotism stuff is nonsense anyway.
You are not sending Amir to the borders to fight soldiers.
You are selecting him to play cricket matches and even if he is not ready to lay his life down for the country which most of us are not anyway, he will still do his job that he is paid for.
Those who complain about his lack of intensity and passion. Well, I would take his lack of intensity and passion over Rauf screaming like a madman.
What good is intensity and passion when you are not international material. At least Amir has some pedigree, experience and is respected by the greatest batsmen of this generation.
The other is just a street cricket bowler with a grand total of 7 FC wickets to his name.
He was given a chance because PCB needed him. They didn’t do “ehsaan” on him.
To be fair, bowling in a T20 league is nothing more than practice.
It's like 30-40 overs in an entire tournament if you make the final.
You can bowl more in one Test. Sometimes in a single innings.
He was given a chance because PCB needed him. They didn’t do “ehsaan” on him.
They did "ehsaan" on him by fighting for him by supporting him a lot at every stage during his ban.
Whether they needed him or not doesn't matter at all
Yeah well, he's not needed anymore.
Surely playing in some T20 leagues does not equate to playing Test cricket.
Call the decision selfish or sensible - but the fact is that Amir will not be bowling anywhere near the amount of overs now that he has retired from Tests.
Of course it matters. If you need someone for something and you support him/her, it is not a favor. You are simply taking your own interests into consideration.