‘Rawalpindi Express’ Shoaib Akhtar slams Mohammad Amir, Says ‘Papa Mickey Arthur will not always be there to safeguard him’
Byline By- Vinayak Heliwal
Pakistan Cricket is always in the headlines due to the controversial statements by their cricketers. This time, Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar had given his piece of mind to the newly retired fast bowler Mohammed Amir.
Mohammad Amir has been at the helm of controversy ever since he announced his retirement from international cricket in December 2020.
For the unversed Mohammad Amir had firstly announced his retirement earlier in 2020 and following a complete fallout with Pakistan team head coach Misbah -Ul- Haq, and bowling coach Waqar Younis, he decided to finally retire from all forms of international cricket.
Although, Amir while explaining his decision stated that the management did not back him enough during his playing days and that the treatment he was subjected to was unfair.
The left-arm pacer has now moved England to settle down and continues to maintain that he will not play for the national team until they remain in charge.
His decision has repeatedly invited flak from his countrymen and former teammates. The latest to voice his criticism for Amir and his stern approach is non-other than ‘Rawalpindi Express’ Shoaib Akhtar.
While speaking to PTV sports, Shoaib Akhtar asked Amir ‘to grow up ‘ and said the only way for a player to prove himself is to perform.
“Sometimes you have good days and sometimes you have bad days. Amir should have realized that papa Mickey Arthur will not always be there to safeguard him. Sometimes you have to grow up. I am saying this for Amir. Sometimes you have to grow up. You don’t let it go but you mature enough to realize that the management is not according to my wishes, now I have to raise my performance and level of hard work,” Akhtar said.
Akhtar felt that Amir didn’t improve himself and got complacent and is now blaming team management for not supporting him in the Pakistan National team.
Citing the example of veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez, Akhtar remarked that Amir should learn from Hafeez, who despite having differences with team management, went on to carve a long International career.
“The management was also against Hafeez. What did Hafeez do that was different? He just made runs and nothing else. He didn’t give the management an envelope full of cash. Amir should have learned from Hafeez,” Akhtar opined.
“Najam Sethi had a big role in bringing Mohammad Amir back. Respect the fact that Najam Sethi and the board worked very hard in bringing him back. It was a very hard process. This is a favor the PCB did for Amir. Amir won some crucial matches for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy which includes the final. After that, his performances deteriorated, a right stance of Misbah. Misbah is not in the wrong here. He is also right when he says that Amir’s pace has gone down. There is nothing wrong with that assessment,” he added.
The left-arm pacer, who was once compared to Pakistan legend fast bowler Wasim Akram, played 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is for Pakistan from 2009-2021. He has also served a five-year ban for his involvement in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.