Daily Mail

COOK: AMIR DESERVES FLAK FROM CROWD

- By LAWRENCE BOOTH and PAUL NEWMAN

ALASTAIR COOK says English crowds will get on Mohammad Amir’s back this summer — and insists it will be up to the Pakistan fast bowler to deal with the abuse. Amir will make his return to Test cricket at Lord’s next week after serving a prison sentence and a five-year ban for his part in the no-ball scandal of 2010. And with the first Test taking place at the scene of the crime, the focus will be on the reception he receives from a capacity crowd. ‘I’m sure there will be a reaction, and that is right,’ said Cook. ‘It is part and parcel: when you do something like that there are more consequenc­es than just the punishment. That is something for him to cope with, whatever comes his way.’ With England looking to complete a full set of series trophies against each of the other nine Test-playing nations, Cook said the inevitable fuss over Amir’s comeback would have no impact on his own team. ‘Whatever Test match you are playing in, there is always something off the field, whether it is political or something like this,’ he said. ‘It won’t affect us as a side. We will concentrat­e on what we can concentrat­e on.’ The England captain, who was dismissed lbw by Kent’s Kagiso Rabada for 49 playing for Essex yesterday, reiterated his belief that corruption bans should be for life. ‘Whether I agreed or disagreed with the punishment, he got it, served his time and he is absolutely right to come back. You’d have to speak to him. What he did wasn’t good but he served his punishment then. The ICC haven’t made any big statements, but if I was in charge, if you got caught once that would be it — one strike and you’re out.’ Amir sat in the Taunton dugout on his return to England yesterday as Pakistan began their tour with a gentle day’s batting against Somerset’s second-string attack. Younis Khan hit an unbeaten 99 in a stand of 179 with Asad Shafiq as Pakistan recovered from 132 for four to finish on 324 for five. Tim Groenewald and Paul van Meekeren took two wickets apiece.

 ??  ?? Amir: spot-fixing shame
Amir: spot-fixing shame

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom