LAHORE: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir on Tuesday featured in his first game after being cleared last month to play domestic cricket by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The 22-year-old left-armer represented Lahore’s West Zone Cricket Club in a match played at the Shah Faisal Club and said he is focusing on regaining his fitness after being out of action since being banned by the ICC following the infamous spot-fixing scandal in August 2010.

Read: ICC allows Mohammad Amir to play domestic cricket

“I’m practicing daily and working hard on my fitness,” he told reporters after the match in which he scored 14 runs off ten deliveries after batting at number three.

“It is the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) job to decide about my international career and I’ll keep knocking at the door with my performances. I’m looking forward to performing well in domestic cricket.”

Amir will play for Omar Associates in the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II national tournament — one rung below first-class — that begins from March 9.

Looking forward to Pakistan’s World Cup opener against arch-rivals India on Feb 15, Amir hoped Pakistan would win the game.

“The Indians will be under pressure so Pakistan can take advantage of that,” he said. “I hope Pakistan beat India.”

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2015

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