Shoaib Akhtar wants to own a PSL team and coach Mohammad Amir
Shoaib Akhtar has revealed his intention of owning a franchise in the Pakistan Super League, Cricket Australia’s official website reports. The former speedster also added that he would like to make Mohammad Amir a member of his team so that he can guide him as the tainted 23-year-old continues his attempt to make a comeback to international cricket.
"I am planning to buy a team in the PSL and would like to have Amir in my team so that I can guide him and make him an effective bowler," Akhtar said.
The trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Amir recently served out their 5-year-ban imposed by the ICC for their role in the spot-fixing scandal during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010. With Butt and Asif into their 30s, Amir has the best chance to make a successful comeback out of the three.
Amir has been playing domestic cricket in Pakistan since April this year, under a special dispensation offered by the ICC and has slowly but steadily regaining his potency as a lethal left-arm pacer. He impressed in Pakistan’s recently concluded domestic T20 competition while he picked up seven wickets in his last match.
According to Akhtar, Amir still has a long way to go before he can stake a claim for a place in the national side, but added that his inclusion will make the Pakistan team a highly successful one, especially in T20 cricket.
"Everyone knows how talented Amir was when he played cricket so on his return he will have to work hard to become the same bowler," Akhtar said. "Imagine Pakistan's attack with Amir, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan, Shahid Afridi and Yasir Shah and if they play together we can win the next World Twenty20."
While the likes of Stuart Broad who played against Amir, during that fateful tour, feels the trio has been punished enough for their actions, former Pakistan cricketer Rameez Raja has called for them to never be considered for selection to the national team. However, It’s not a view that is shared by Akhtar.
"I have seen them suffer in the last five years so all three must be treated in the same manner," he said.
Amir not thinking about Pakistan comeback at the moment
Amir himself claimed that he is focussed solely on domestic cricket at present and added that he will not hurry his comeback to the national team.
"My focus is on domestic cricket at the moment and it would be premature for me to start thinking about when or if I will play for Pakistan again," Amir told PakPassion.net. "I'm not worrying over when I will play for Pakistan, instead I am just focussing on my domestic form and then leaving the rest to the selectors.”
He acknowledged his impressive performances in the shorter formats of the game but added that he will have to play more four-day matches to test him further.
"I have to take things step-by-step and not try to get ahead of myself. International cricket is a tough environment, it's not a joke. There is a lot of pressure on you in international cricket and I feel that I have to ensure that I am fully ready before I'm talked about for an international recall. When I play four-day cricket that will be a true test of my levels of fitness and whether I still have the ability to swing the ball both ways. I'm feeling stronger with each match, but playing four-day cricket will be a sterner test of my abilities,” Amir said.