Daily Times

KARACHI: Left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has stated that Pakistanis won’t dither even if they are asked to give their life for the country. When asked to describe Pakistan ‘jazba’ (passion) in an interview, the 26-year-old bowler said that Pakistanis love their country more than anything. “Our existence is all about this passion, it’s eternal love for Pakistan, it’s like one would not even hesitate to even give their life for Pakistan,” he said. “People in Pakistan are crazy about cricket and their interest in the game is second to none.”

Amir paved Pakistan’s path to victory in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 against India by picking up the crucial wicket of Virat Kohli – who is currently one of best, if not the best, batsmen in world cricket – but despite that fact, he feels that fatherhood is more challenging as compared to bowling to the Indian batsman.

“Fatherhood is more challenging, than bowling to Kohli as it demands more responsibilities,” he said. Amir – who has accumulated over 200 wickets in international cricket – also said that Australian batsman Steve Smith is the toughest batsman he has bowled to in the modern era while he would have been more than happy to bowl to Brian Lara, if that was possible. “Currently Smith is a difficult batsman to bowl to,” he said. “Would have loved to bowl to Lara; whenever I see his videos, I feel that he was the toughest batsman from that era.”

Speaking about his ambitions in international cricket, Amir said that he has his eyes set on picking up a hat-trick in all three formats of the game. “I want to take a hat-trick in Tests, ODIs and T20Is,” he said when questioned about one wish he would like to fulfill in his cricket career. He also gave out a clear opinion about disliking the rule of free hit on a no-ball and seeing a batsman play a pull shot on his bowling.

“I wish there were no free hit off a no-ball,” he said. “I hate it when someone plays a pull shot against me – it feels weird.” When asked about one match in history if you could watch as a fan, Amir said: “It would be the 1992 Cricket World Cup.” Amir is also inspired by theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking – who recently died on March 14, 2018 – because of the Englishman’s success despite the odds stacked against him. “I love people who succeed in life overcoming various odds. Recently my wife told me about this scientist (Hawking) who was not able to walk or talk but he became world famous,” he said. The fast bowler also wants Bollywood superstar Shahid Kapoor to play him if ever a biopic on his life is made. Amir also takes keen interest in football as well with Argentina’s Sergio Agüero his favorite footballer. He further said that if there was a trophy in other sport that he would like to win, it would be in football.

Published in Daily Times, July 8^th 2018.