MOHAMMAD AMIR IS ALL SET TO TOUR ENGLAND
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammmad Amir is all set to return to Test Cricket in the upcoming tour of England starting from July 14 next month. Ironically Amir will be making his Test come back at the same venue (Lord’s Cricket Ground) where six year’s ago he bowled deliberate no-balls and was charged for spot-fixing.
Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq while announcing the squad in Lahore said “Amir is likely to get the visa for the tour of England in the next couple of days.”
Pakistan Cricket Board trying their level best to get the visa in time for Amir and has specifically sent a request to UK high commission and to England and Wales Cricket Board to help in getting Amir the visa on the basis that he was not deported in fixing case and that he had pleaded guilty during the court trial in 2011.
Since making his comeback after suspension last September, Amir has been a regular feature in Pakistan’s one-day and Twenty20 sides and has been quite impressive with his swing and control but has yet to tested in the most prestigious format of Cricket (Tests). Inzi said while interacting to to media-persons “Amir has been in good form and we hope that he will lead the attack well. Sohail Khan is also doing well as he has been preferred in the right-arm, left-arm bowling combination while we are taking two wicket-keepers because this is a long tour.”
Regular opener Ahmed Shehzad was not selected over disciplinary issues, leaving the opening positions to the inexperienced left-handed pair of Shan Masood, who is only seven Tests old, and Sami Aslam who has played only one. Aslam, however, was part of the Pakistan junior team which toured England in 2013, when he hit three centuries.
Experienced Younis Khan who missed the 2010 UK tour will be the batting mainstay. Besides Younis, Azhar Ali and Hafeez are the only two who have previously played Test matches in England.
Pace attack consists of Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan and Imran Khan while leggie Yasir Shah and left-armer Zulfiqar Babar are the two spinners.
Pakistan Test squad for the tour of England: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez (subject to fitness), Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan.
Coach- Micky Arther