Waqar backs Amir’s return after five years
Was banned for bowling no-balls in Test against England at Lord’s
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis backs Mohammad Amir’s return to international cricket after serving a five-year suspension for spotfixing.
Amir was allowed last January to play domestic cricket, and has been free since September, when his international ban ended, to play anywhere.
In Bangladesh’s Twenty20 league, the left-arm fast bowler has taken nine wickets in seven matches, and impressed Younis.
Younis says the 23-year-old Amir “deserves to come back in the (cricketing) community and enhance his profession.”
The coach also says he had a detailed discussion with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan about Amir’s future, and “we all are on the same page.”
Amir is still going through the PCB rehabilitation program.
He deliberately bowled two no-balls in a test against England at Lord’s in 2010, pleaded guilty, and served three months in a young offender institution in England.
Franchise rights
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board has sold five franchise rights for its new Twenty20 league for $93 million (Dh342 million) for a period of 10 years.
Five companies bought the Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad, and Quetta teams.
ARY Group, a media company, made the highest bid of an undisclosed amount for Karachi.
Najam Sethi, chairman of the Pakistan Super League, says, “The best part is that all the team owners are ardent cricket fans and their dedication will make this league a success.”
The inaugural Pakistan Super League will be organised in the UAE cities of Dubai and Sharjah from February 4-23. By playing out of Pakistan, the PCB hopes to attract top foreign players and coaches.
Sethi says coaches will be chosen over the next 10 days, and players’ draft will be held later this month.