Six years on from the News Of The World infamy, Pakistan paceman Mohammad Amir will have the eyes of the world on him when he runs in to bowl at Lord’s in the first Test against England which begins on Thursday.

Six years is a long time. And in those six years, Amir has been criticised from all corners. Crucified would be a more apt word. But now, is his chance for redemption.

It is time for the criticism to stop. Amir has served his punishment.

He returns to the iconic Lord’s after completing a five-year ban from international cricket for the infamous spot-fixing scandal that in 2010 had brought his burgeoning career to a standstill.

Amir returned to the international fold in January this year, his ban ending in September last year, and he’s come back with a bang with a string of stirring performances.

His fallen stock has risen once again but his reputation remains scarred by the events of six years ago when he was implicated in a ploy with captain Salman Butt and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif to bowl deliberate no-balls.

And that aberration has seen former players once again slay him on his return to England, most notably Kevin Pietersen who called for a lifetime ban on fixers.

Salman claimed on Wednesday it was a pressure tactic by former England players and its media to revive memories of the last Test Pakistan and England played at Lord’s.

‘One performance’

“Amir should not take English media seriously as they are using an old trick to put him under pressure, as he is the real threat to their batting line-up,” he said in Lahore.

“Just one match-winning performance from him will change the entire scenario so he should be focussed on taking wickets.”

The fact of the matter remains that Amir remains one of world cricket’s most fearsome bowler and the cricketing world should cherish his return.

There is no question that what he did was wrong in every sense.

But he paid the penalty, set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations. If he cheated the system, now he has succeeded in getting himself back through the same system.

Now is the time to see him live up to his potential.

It will be tough on both him and the Pakistan team. Historically Pakistan have had their run-ins with the hostile British media and it will be more of the same this time around.

With Amir, Pakistan have a big chance of winning their first series in England in 20 years.

“Pakistan have a very effective bowling attack which can create problems for England,” discarded Test opener Ahmed Shehzad said on Wednesday.

“England’s batting line-up has been reshuffling lately and doesn’t look as formidable as in the past. If Pakistan’s batsmen excel, the team will pose a very serious threat to England.”

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2016