Published: Sep 09, 2016, 11:15 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 09, 2016, 12:21 PM (IST)
Karachi: Pakistan‘s left-arm pacer Mohammad Aamer says he does not have a magic wand to start performing up to the expectations immediately after returning to international cricket after nearly six years. Aamer, 22, returned to the Pakistan team on the tour to New Zealand early in 2016 after completing a five-year ban for spot-fixing in September. He was also a part of the team during the recently-concluded tour of England. “Whenever I play, there are a lot of expectations. But the thing is I don’t have a magic wand. This is international cricket and you cannot deliver in a day,” Aamer told ‘The News‘ newspaper in an interview in England. David Gower: Mohammad Aamer’s return good for cricket
“I have come back to this level of cricket after six years. I know I have to work hard. It will take time. Even when I first started playing international cricket it took me a year before everyone started noticing me,” he added. The PCB used its influence to ensure Aamer was issued a visa for the tour to England despite the fact that the pacer was found guilty of spot fixing in the same country in 2010 and also served around six months in a juvenile jail in the United Kingdom before returning home. Misbah-ul-Haq: Mohammad Aamer has got ‘new life’ following 1st Test win over England at Lord’s
After he got a visa to tour England, there were huge expectations from him and everyone thought that he would be Pakistan’s trump card in the Test and limited-overs series. However, Aamer finished with 12 wickets in four Tests and just four in four ODIs, including 3-50 in Pakistan’s only win in the final ODI in Cardiff. “During the tour I have observed various things and I know that I need to change. I have to work hard on my fitness and form. Once your level is up then you can really start expressing yourself,” he said. Alastair Cook becomes Mohammad Aamer’s first Test victim in 6 years
Aamer said there was a lot of pressure on him during the England tour but it helped him prepare for the upcoming series against the West Indies and tours to New Zealand and Australia this winter. “The best thing is that this series [in England] was my biggest pressure tour. It went smoothly and that has added to my confidence. I am sure my performance will be better in New Zealand and Australia as I have done well against them in the past. Personally, I have this feeling that I am getting better with every match,” he said.
