Spot-fixer Mohammad Amir stars on return to first-class cricket in England and boosts chances of Test recall
Pakistan seamer Mohammad Amir claimed three wickets on his return to first-class cricket in England, six years after the spot-fixing scandal which led to a prison sentence.
Amir served a jail term as well as a five-year ban from the sport after being found guilty of deliberately bowling no-balls during a Test match at Lord’s in 2010. Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt and bowler Mohammad Asif were also implicated.
The 24-year-old is back in England as part of Pakistan’s Test squad for the upcoming series and made a positive impression by snaring three scalps in his side’s warm-up match against Somerset at Taunton.
Left-arm paceman Amir was handed the new ball and soon dismissed former England batsman Marcus Trescothick for eight, while he also removed fellow opener Adam Hose and all-rounder Peter Trego on his way to figures of 3-36.
Amir’s contribution helped Pakistan dismiss Somerset for 128 on day two of three. Pakistan ended the day with a lead of 371 runs after advancing their second innings to 140-4, having racked up 359-8 declared in their first. Batsman Azhar Ali reached an unbeaten half-century before the close, while Asad Shafiq was 26 not out.
The performance of Amir, who made his international return in a Twenty20 clash against New Zealand in January, boosted his chances of reprising his Test career when the Investec series with England gets underway at Lord’s on 14 July.