I’m not comparing the players - I’m comparing the response.
Amir has turned his back on selection once - Imran did it on 5 different occasions.
Yet Amir is treated as if it is an act of treason. When at Southampton you need him whereas he doesn’t need you.
No, you compared player to player - I can paste the line where you said Amir is better than Imran Khan ever was in such conditions..... I belive that was not for Imran Khan Sr., rather the Prime Minister one.
Coming to the response - you are not correct either. In fact, WY has explained perfectly why Amir is not considered: he is retired, and not ready for red ball game. More importantly, we haven't prepared him for the Red ball series. I do tend to believe that guy Waquar Younis knows few tricks more than us regarding the readiness and match fitness of a fast bowler for a five day game after retiring a year back and hardly (if any) playing any FC games in between.
Coming to the five "refusals", I am not sure what is your source of information, but I did follow Imran's career quite passionately, and I see lots of incorrect information there. Here is my version of the "refusals"
1981-82: Imran actually was among very few players who remained neutral in that saga - there were probably 9 known seniors (I can name most, but not required) including his cousin was part of the revolt but he kept himself silent. He was not even considered for Captaincy at that point. Air Marshall Noor Khan was PCB Chairman then and he wasn't submissive to the players demand, but he asked Javed to step down and appointed Khan as Captain, sighting that it won't be any issue for Javed in near future. I am not sure what was the reason Khan didn't play first two Tests (SRL), but it was never as a protest to Captain. Four years later Imran made a comeback in 1985 under Javed and he was offered Captaincy immediately, which he declined and allowed Javed to complete his pre-agreed tenure. This is one reason despite having on & off the field differences, Javed never had any issues with Captain Imran on cricket field.
1984-85: That's blunt lie and I believe you have read "All-round View". After almost two years of injury lay-off, Imran started to bowl sometimes in Nov-December 1984 and he was no way in shape for fast bowling. When PAK team was being selected (for NZ), he himself asked them not to consider him. He was looking for some FC games to regain his fitness and NSW came with the opportunity (Via IC I believe, Aussies didn't hire foreigners much for their domestics) - he won the Shield with NSW batting at 5 and bowled lots of overs - I think he played 6 games and was player of the season (was MoM in the Final as well). By the time PAK returned from NZ for the B&H Mini WSC, Imran made himself available and played under Javed. He played first game for NSW sometimes in late Nov, PAK traveled to NZ a month later, by the time he had just 2-3 FC games in 23 months .......
1987-88: No, he was permanently retired, only to come back on the request of President of PAK. And, he announced that retirement over a year back from the date - in fact, after the Final of Perth Challenge Cup Jan, 1987; he waved at the fans as well (probably sighting his last trip to Australia)
1988-89: This one I am not sure. But, in past, Australia always toured Asia during off seasons because of their domestic season cutting path - either between SEP-OCT or MAR-APR-MAY. He has played two other series against AUS at home in even hotter conditions, therefore I don't think weather was any issue there - fitness may be (by that time he was 36) but definitely not weather.
1990-91: This one I am sure - he wrote it in his book. Without Hadlee (who retired that July), he didn't think NZ was a worthy opponent (which they proved in field as well) and he asked PCB to convert the WIN series (a month later) to a 5 Test affair, which PCB declined (or might not be possible for them). Imran didn't disagree to play, rather he wanted to get into full fitness (he was 38+ now), so that he can bowl against WIN (which still he couldn't - just few wickets, but batted with 50+ average).
Amir needed and still needs every bit of mercy from PAK cricket - for that what PCB did for him. He himself did enough to drive taxi for a living without the help of PCB. Also, I am not sure why PAK needs him, even in Southampton - they already have the Cyborg version of Starc and the incarnation of Fred Truman, the second greatest fast bowler ever + a seemer averaging <16 in UK .... and a leggi so far taking 45% wickets for PAK in this series - where to fit in Amir?
