Pakistan legend calls Amir ‘an asset for Pakistan cricket’

Praising left-arm speedster Mohammad Amir, Pakistan legendary pacer Waqar Younis has called him an asset for Pakistan cricket and a match-winner.

Speaking to PakPassion, former Pakistan captain said, “It is not easy to come back after being out of the game for five years. You can't expect an 18-year-old kid to be out of the game for five years and then come back and be the same bowler and do the same things he was doing before his ban”.

"The game has moved on also, it's more fast-paced and there is more Twenty20 cricket being played around the world. But he's a fighter," he said.

“I was always supporting Amir for his comeback to cricket as I feel that everyone makes mistakes in life," he said, adding, "We are living in a world where we should be able to forgive people and move on as long as they have learnt their lesson. He's an asset for Pakistan cricket and he remains a match-winner.”

Referring to Amir’s workload, which has been the talk of the town for last month or two, Younis said, “I think for Amir as a strike-bowler playing in all three formats all of the time is a bit too much because he's also playing in Twenty20 leagues around the world.”

"Amir has to be careful with his workload and that hunger to play for your country has to remain," he said, adding that sometimes that hunger can diminish if you are playing in all formats, all of the time.