• ‘NO SURPRISE’

LEICESTERSHIRE: Pakistan pace spearhead Mohammad Amir took part in training here on Friday to reduce concerns about his bowling fitness, the sport360 website reported.

Amir had picked up a knee injury during Ireland‘s inaugural Test in Dublin which Pakistan ultimately won by five wickets. He was forced to go off the field on the third day of the Test as his old knee injury had flared up due to very cold weather in Dublin.

However, on Friday he trained with the team ahead of their two-day warm-up match against Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground which starts on Saturday and was seen bowling at the nets.

Another website, Daily Pakistan, cited a PCB official saying that Amir will be fit for the first Test against England which starts from May 24 at Lord’s.

The PCB official said that “Amir’s injury was not serious and he would be showing his skills in England”.

‘NO SURPRISE’

The match will see Amir’s new-ball partner Mohammad Abbas face his county side.

Abbas played in Leicestershire’s County Championship debut against Sussex in April before joining up with the Pakistan squad, sitting out of the game against Kent, before taking four wickets in their game against Northamptonshire.

He picked nine wickets in the inaugural Test match of Ireland and his success came as no surprise to Leicester­shire coach Paul Nixon.

“We know how much quality Abbas possesses and the skill he can bowl with,” said Nixon.

“It’ll be great to see him back at the Fischer County Ground and to catch up with him before he returns in the middle of June after the test series.”

The format of the fixture is two innings per side with the side batting first in the first innings allowed to face a maximum of 100 overs of bowling.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2018