Amir bags three on return

E-Paper | March 16, 2026

LAHORE: Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir on Saturday bagged three wickets in a club match to show he has not lost much of fire and sting despite his absence from active cricket for nearly five years owing to an ICC ban for spot-fixing.

Amir, who was allowed by the ICC to return to domestic cricket this week, looked sharp and bowled well to take 3-27 with the ball in a club match played at the University of Engineering and Technology. The left-arm pacer also scored a fluent 33 with the bat.

On the occasion, the erstwhile banned bowler vowed that he would stage a comeback at international level very soon and will get his rhythm back gradually.

Also read: Will Amir's return hurt Pakistan cricket? No.

Published in Dawn February 1st, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Sport

South Africa tear through NZ to win first T20

Lens suffer blow to title hopes with Lorient loss

Medvedev ousts Alcaraz to set up Indian Wells final against Sinner

saleem

Feb 01, 2015 11:13am

Good job keep it up.

Recommend 0

Talha

Feb 01, 2015 11:16am

Good luck Amir. Hoping to see a more skilled and matured version of yours.

Recommend 0

Sarah

Feb 01, 2015 11:25am

Let's accept the reality that other's are not even 1% of his bowling capability.

Recommend 0

kashif

Feb 01, 2015 11:43am

Your Performance and Clean Character will be your lawyers. It's up to you how you use them..Good Luck anyways

Recommend 0

Fazal Karim

Feb 01, 2015 12:10pm

well done. good for Pakistan cricket.

Recommend 0

asad

Feb 01, 2015 12:10pm

He has served his punishment and hope learnt the lesson as well. Looking forward to see him in action at international level soon.

Recommend 0

sameer nawaz

Feb 01, 2015 12:14pm

Amir has learnt his lesson and has received enough punishment for his crime. He should be given full opportunity to perform for the country. He has not only accepted his mistake but has been very remorseful for his actions. Good luck Amir.

Recommend 0

atif khan

Feb 01, 2015 12:15pm

@Sarah well said

Recommend 0

khurshid

Feb 01, 2015 12:16pm

@Sarah agree & mentally very strong

Recommend 0

Salman

Feb 01, 2015 12:19pm

Hope he has learnt his lesson and wont be selling his loyalty for a few quick bucks in future. He must not forget that this is his last chance.

Recommend 0

Ismail

Feb 01, 2015 12:23pm

After completing his sentence, he truly deserves 2nd chance like everyone else. Good job and hope to see you soon on international arena.

Recommend 0

Dystopia

Feb 01, 2015 12:29pm

Good news but one must not be too carried away. Was against University of Engineering, not world xi

Recommend 0

Safdar

Feb 01, 2015 12:54pm

@khurshid - mentally very strong but morally very weak...

Recommend 0

anees zaidvi

Feb 01, 2015 01:14pm

Great ! And batsmen around the world are going to have sleepless nights soon.

Recommend 0

kaka

Feb 01, 2015 01:17pm

Welcome Back. All have similar past so lets forget it and give him what he deserve.

Recommend 0

Sarah

Feb 01, 2015 01:35pm

@Safdar There would be no ICC Chairman Srinivasan if you are talking about morality and several Pakistani politicians would have jumped into well if morality is what you are concerned about.You can neither touch Srinivasan neither Pakistani politicians,so stop talking about morality.

Recommend 0

Faizan

Feb 01, 2015 01:35pm

If he does perform extremely well on his return at international level, there must be sports movie on his life in the future..It already has an awesome script

Recommend 0

Sarah

Feb 01, 2015 01:37pm

@Safdar You are right current Pakistani team bowlers getting based in NZ are morally very strong? Think before you make comment.Don't forget cricket is his profession.

Recommend 0

Shoaib

Feb 01, 2015 01:59pm

not wanted ...

Recommend 0

sid

Feb 01, 2015 02:08pm

Sad day for cricket if he ever returns. National traitor in my opinion!

Recommend 0

KamranM

Feb 01, 2015 02:26pm

This is "the Amir returns" for you.

Recommend 0

Zoab Khan

Feb 01, 2015 02:33pm

drop Bhatti and bring Amir into WC squad.

Recommend 0

Abdulla Hussin

Feb 01, 2015 02:48pm

Good luck to you Amir. Play with honesty & dignity. Today international cricket is not free from impurities, efforts will be made to destabilize you again be on the guard. Most of the Pakistanis believe in you now, value their feelings & perform to please them.

Recommend 0

sameer nawaz

Feb 01, 2015 03:16pm

Even Allah forgives those who do tauba and repent. To what he has gone through I'm sure he will try to set an example for others not to indulge in such a behavior. Give him a fair go he has done his time for his crime. Plz don't judge him on his past. Who doesn't do mistakes in life?

Recommend 0

jameel wani(occupied kashmir)

Feb 01, 2015 03:16pm

welldone

Recommend 0

faisal

Feb 01, 2015 03:44pm

He should be given a chance.. Being Ajmal out, if you see the result of yesterday's match against NZ i think we will have to ask Asif to come back also :)

Recommend 0

zaffar

Feb 01, 2015 04:18pm

@sid Do you mean to say that most of the people in Pakistan have never commited a crime.?Just look around you.

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Feb 01, 2015 04:24pm

It will be great if we somehow manage to have Muhammad Amir, Muhammad Irfan and Junaid Khan / Wahab Riaz for the world cup.

Recommend 0

Cricketer

Feb 01, 2015 04:41pm

A convict is not welcome!

Recommend 0

zafar

Feb 01, 2015 05:09pm

Just like corrupt politicians. ..we keep giving such people chances again and again. .

Recommend 0

pier wasif

Feb 01, 2015 05:23pm

Pakistan has been bleeding for years by these two political leaders Zardari & Nawaz Amir will bring joy to the country, we are happy to see Amir back on stage. Those who think Amir's return will bring bad names to our country let me tell you Pakistan's character has been destroyed by Nawaz and Zardari they are nor politicians they are mafia, thugs and gangs. Pakistan cannot get any worst we are waiting to see these gangs behind the bars once and for good.

Recommend 0

Thoroughthinker

Feb 01, 2015 05:25pm

Good and welcome return Aamir, but get a decent hair-cut to improve your personality as well. Make your work display, not the jinx of Samson-hair-power.

Recommend 0

Truth

Feb 01, 2015 06:27pm

Punnishment has been served and now if he keeps performing well then he should get a chance to play for Pakistan.

Recommend 0

jamil

Feb 01, 2015 06:37pm

Amir please do not corrupt yourself again. May God be with you.

Recommend 0

imran

Feb 01, 2015 06:59pm

@Zoab Khan Bhatti is not in wc squad. He is selected for only nz series since junaid is out for injury.

Recommend 0

Malik

Feb 01, 2015 07:14pm

I am happy for him. He has at least admitted to his mistakes and pledges not to do the same. Who else has done this in Pakistan, shall we ask our politicians.... :)

Recommend 0

Sarah

Feb 01, 2015 07:38pm

He is natural talent ,he will do well on any planet.Off course other countries would not like to see him because he is night mare for batsman.

Recommend 0

Indro

Feb 01, 2015 07:39pm

Life is all about second chances. He deserves one and I hope he has learnt his lesson. Has tremendous talent, has to stay grounded. Good luck to him.

Recommend 0

Mumtaz Ahmed Khan

Feb 01, 2015 07:45pm

We all know you were trapped and lured into this wrong doing and after serving the punishment no one should accuse his finger on you. Just focus on your game, come out strongly and prove the world their trick won't work again. Be a champ like Wasim & Waqar. We love you young man.

Recommend 0

daada

Feb 01, 2015 07:57pm

best of luck man! they sure can use you in the international team!

Recommend 0

Rashid Sultan

Feb 01, 2015 08:02pm

Stiff competition for the national team as there are now many good fast(er) and accurate bowlers.

Recommend 0

Asad

Feb 01, 2015 08:16pm

Once a thief will always be a thief. Pakistan should have kept him out of cricket to set an example for future generations.

Recommend 0

Sami

Feb 01, 2015 08:44pm

The arbiters of "justice" and "punishment"should be ashamed of themselves for not taking this young man's age, at the time of his offense, into consideration when determining the length of his punishment. He was only 18 years and 4 months of age at the time.

Recommend 0

concerned_Cit

Feb 01, 2015 09:17pm

Awesome. Best of luck for the future Aamir.

Recommend 0

Harsh Delhi

Feb 01, 2015 09:40pm

As a indian i also want Amir must comeback bcoz subcontinent is missing next world class quicky.

Recommend 0

faisal

Feb 01, 2015 10:09pm

Is a fact Pakistan couldn't produce any bowler of his caliber in last five years.

Recommend 0

saddam

Feb 01, 2015 10:12pm

Punished thief never tries to do the same for which he had been punished. We may hope he'll never make such mistake. Be positive dear

Recommend 0

Irfan UK

Feb 01, 2015 10:29pm

Good news at last. I'm sure Amir's bowling will do the talking now. I think he has learnt his lesson and now it's time to leave the kid alone and let him perform.

Recommend 0

Sarah

Feb 02, 2015 12:44am

@Rashid Sultan Not even one of them close to 1% of Amir,very sorry to say same.

Recommend 0

dawn

Feb 02, 2015 12:49am

PCB-please send him down under to help the team! He has come back. Good luck Amir.

Recommend 0

dawn

Feb 02, 2015 12:51am

@Dystopia - every tree starts with a seed! Be positive.

Recommend 0

dawn

Feb 02, 2015 01:08am

@Asad - We didnt keep our leaders from returning again?

Recommend 0

abdul

Feb 02, 2015 02:41am

Many happy returns, be humble, stay focused on your game and your integrity. I promise you will find immense success. Love your bowling. Best of luck young man.

Recommend 0

Mustafa

Feb 02, 2015 02:48am

May Allah keep him on the right path. He is such a talented young man. Hope he brings 2019 WC to Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Naveed ,USA

Feb 02, 2015 03:18am

@Sarah Yes,he is gem of bowler. I wish all the best in his future endeavors!

Recommend 0

Naveed ,USA

Feb 02, 2015 03:23am

@sameer nawaz Yes,you are right. He has lost 5 years cricket which could have taken him to the climax by now,so this was his punishment, he will always regret it and I hope he will make up all the lost for Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Naveed ,USA

Feb 02, 2015 03:24am

@anees zaidvi Inshaallah, I wish good health and complete fitness in his cricket career ahead.

Recommend 0

Naveed ,USA

Feb 02, 2015 03:34am

@Asad Why have elected Nawaz Shareef and many others like him? Zardari and company? If Amir had been your son or brother you must have been pleading people for his come back in the team. It is easy to point to other people.

Recommend 0

Naveed ,USA

Feb 02, 2015 03:36am

@sameer nawaz You are 100% right, I am totally agree with you.

Recommend 0

Sindhu ranja

Feb 02, 2015 04:27am

Damn I should have bet on it

Recommend 0

vham

Feb 02, 2015 05:56am

All I can see is a thief milking the system.

Recommend 0

mviewer

Feb 02, 2015 06:04am

Wish you very good luck Amir.

Recommend 0

awais

Feb 02, 2015 09:28am

good luck Amir!

Recommend 0

Riaz

Feb 02, 2015 04:59pm

I personally welcome his return. To all those who say he should not I say this....this guy was what 17 - 21 when he got embroiled...ask you self is your son capable of questioning other people of authority at this age. I would say not really. Then has he served his sentence....absolutely he has been humiliated and jailed ina foreign country which he should not have!! He should have been jailed in Pakistan. How about even the most notorious South African apartheid killer responsible for so many deaths has been pardoned by South Africans! So why are we so critical of this youngman getting another opportunity!!

Recommend 0

RajahR

Feb 03, 2015 01:22am

@pier wasif ....You can not use a crooks name to try and undermine other crooks.Shame really as Aamir had the potential to be a great but now will never be accepted 100% by anyone who is honest and decent. Make all the noise you want that is and will for ever remain a fact.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Chery Master Pakistan expands nationwide 3S dealership network: 10 operational, 20 planned by 2027

The nationwide dealership network includes 8 dealerships across six major cities, with two additional dealerships launching in the coming month, expanding the network to 10 dealerships nationwide.

Cardiogen and the molecular language of cardiac renewal: A speculative exploration

This article explores Cardiogen’s molecular characteristics, theorised mechanisms of action and its possible relevance across multiple research domains.

Master MoltyFoam’s Women’s Day initiative supports the next generation of female athletes

This year, Master MoltyFoam used the occasion to highlight the importance of support in sports by launching an initiative focused on encouraging young female athletes in Pakistan.