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The ball that left Mohammad Amir's hand on July 15, 2016 had poetic justice etched all over it. It was released with the aggression he was once formidably famous for, only this time it was woven deeper into the threads of the seam like a cry for redemption.
The ball ingeniously betrayed Alastair Cook's bat, kissing it softly on the edge before clipping the bails off. It wanted to be noticed, to be feared, to be revered - again. Lords watched in wonder as Amir claimed his first Test wicket in six years at the same ground his career almost died a fateful death.
In the span of those six years, every fan hoped and prayed that whenever Amir returns, he must not have changed. We wanted the same 18-year-old with his contagious energy.
We wanted him to jump, yell, and smile with the same unrestrained passion. We wanted his long black hair that swung in rhythm as he ran. We wanted the same pace, the same swing.
We wanted the same old Amir back, but our wish was not granted. What we got instead was an older, wiser, better Amir.
His first international series after his return was underwhelming. Pakistan were in New Zealand and Amir was in the squad, much to the displeasure of some teammates. He kept a straight head and focused on the ball, even when two of his catches were put down in the first T20.
The pace was there, we could all see it, but something else was not. That is not to say that he didn't show promise; it was evident in his contained aggression and on-field morale that he wanted to go big. The crowd occasionally booed but he didn't care for them. He was there to get a wicket.
Amir finished the T20 series with one wicket and a myriad of expectations. He yearned for esteem, respect, redemption, and he knew he would have to wait.
In the following ODIs against New Zealand, Amir bagged five wickets in two games, with an average economy of 3.87. What followed next, however, was a beautiful culmination of six years worth of patience and faith.
Asia Cup 2016: the first ball of the first over of Pakistan's first game. The opponents were India and the setting was Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Dhaka. Pakistan had 84 runs to defend and Rohit Sharma was on strike.
An exuberant Amir ran in with the new ball, bowling a loaded yorker that Sharma almost edged coming down on his front foot.
There were screams. Keeper, first slip, second slip, bowler all appealed in assertive harmony for an LBW. The umpire didn't budge.
A baffled Afridi exchanged looks with his boys; Amir could not believe his fate. Sharma survived, but Amir knew it was only a matter of time.
How short a time? Six seconds.
The very next ball swung straight onto Sharma's pad, escaping inside edge and flying towards middle stump. Amir appealed with double the force and Sharma was on his way.
There are moments like these with Amir, when he just knows. He appeals like he knows your darkest secrets and where they're hidden.
He doesn't forget scores unsettled.
Amir finished with 3-18.
Asia Cup 2016 was his resurgence onto the international stage, and the world held its breath as Amir prepared for England.
Fast forward to Champions Trophy 2017. Much was similar to the Asia Cup spectacle. The opponents were India and the setting was Kennington Oval, London. Pakistan had 338 runs to defend and Rohit Sharma was on strike.
The third ball of the first over came crashing onto the pad like last year's replay. The umpire raised a finger and in that instant, India knew Amir had arrived. Both hands in the air, he roared with every muscle in his body.
One over later, he bowled a blinder to Kohli who nicked it without due consideration to slip. As fate would have it, the ball was put down by Azhar Ali. Had we given the most dangerous batsman in the world a second life? Amir knew better than to let this setback get in his way; he had written a similar script before.
The next ball deceived Kohli into attempting a flick towards on-side, but he edged it straight to the fielder at point who carried it comfortably.
I like to believe that before his ban, Amir bowled like any insanely talented young pacer would. His ambition was limited to securing more wickets, setting more records, winning more matches. Since his comeback, he has shown signs of greater aggression.
Back then, he bowled to win; today he bowls to win something back.
The Pakistan cricket team is fondly known asShaheen (falcons), though Mohammad Amir, I believe, must not be counted as one. He is Pakistan's phoenix, for he resurges from his ashes and continues flight.
For every catch dropped, for every appeal denied, for every wound sustained and for every disgrace suffered - Mohammad Amir rises again. He lives through and keeps flying, undaunted.
Lastly, to everyone who opposed his right to a second chance - has his return not been worth it?
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Roha Nadeem is a freelance journalist, writer, presenter and a mass communications student. She also represented Kuwait’s National Under-19 women’s cricket team. Follow her on Twitter @RohaNadym
The views expressed by this writer and commenters below do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
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Seeing a 18 year old with such a talent on his first days of cricket, British media, team and bookies couldn't handle the fact this would be suitable for gambling so as young , imature and vulnerable he was, he was intentionally targeted, and punished by criminals.
Nice article...my only regret is that during the final, Amir was the worthier man of the match..
too early to say if he is back or not !! too early to say if he is still destined to the greatness of wasim or waqar, he certainly did deliver in 2009-2010 but with his current form?? really??!! consistency holds the key. how wasim akram delivered consistently, can he?? only time will tell. for me he firstly needs to beat the amir of 2009-2010, then maybe we can call him phoenix or a lion or whatever.
Now that he has performed , praise is being showered...what if he had failed!!!!
if you look at the videos of the dropped catches on amir's bowling you will them hilarious. even in this champions trophy two catches were dropped on his bowling.
Finally we are talking about Amir. No question everybody worked hard. But Amir and Zaman lay the foundation to bring ICC cup home. He is the one who break India back bone by taking 3 wickets.
Even if Amir is ready to deliver, lack of matches especially over the next couple of years will hinder his progress and his desire ot be great!
people try to compare current fast bowlers with wasim and waqar but they dont realize the differences between today's cricket and that of the past. flat tracks, 2 new balls, shorter boundaries, thicker bats, increased power play overs have turned the balance in the batsmen favor. bring wasim and waqar today and they will be thrashed like everyone else. they both were lucky as ICC was not so strict about fixing at that time. they were among the pioneers of this "trait" in pakistan cricket.
@Arif Kaderbhoy He only bowled 6 overs. When Pandya was thrashing the spinners, Sarfaraz should have brought Amir on. He deserved to bowl his full 10 overs and perhaps he would have got a 5 or 6 wicket haul.
Well written. Amir is the man. Alastair Cook remembered and that's why Amir is now playing for Essex.
while playing against Inda in ICC, Amir I believed had brought more smiles than Wasim and Waqar brought to Pak... without taking anything away from cricket legends, wasim and waqar..
Amir won the W.C for Pakistan.
Amir wasn't the first exciting left arm bowling genius,or Pak talent in general, to be corrupted and quite unfortunately probably not the last. Important that the phoenix doesn't become icarus now.
Nice article. What a comeback for a wonder kid. He was lethal in the finals. Redemption well deserved and congratulation. Look forward to seeing him on cricket scene for a long time to come.
All the best to Mohammad Amir.
Beautifully written article, captures all the magic and mystique of this emerging talent in Pakistan. IMHO, being out of cricket for several years helped Amir in some ways. His body had not completely developed at 18 and his furious pace would have caused him injuries with his physique. He has now emerged not just smarter but stronger and able to manage and harness his raw energy better. Looking forward to see what the future holds for this talented young player.
Amir should have won man of the match to the two most crucial games Pakistan played at the Champions Trophy. He was the main reason we won against Sri Lanka and then against India in the finals. Over the course of the two matches, he dismissed the 5 most dangerous batsmen on either side of the teams. And he dismissed them as convincingly as anyone has dismissed anyone, and in the process totally demoralized the other side. I believe the world cricketing body is purposefully playing it safe when it comes to awarding man of the match awards to Mohd. Amir. But he is going to keep knocking on that door, and one day it will be opened. He is easily the most talented fast bowler in the world. There isn't much he can't do with the ball. And as he gains confidence, his bowling will become devastating to the opposing side.
Beautiful article. I am really glad to see Amir back in his form. Waited six long years to see him bowled the way he did in Champions Trophy.
Beautifully said: "Back then, he bowled to win; today he bowls to win something back."
Indeed, Amir is Pakistan's phoenix.
@Bilal dear, though Amir is elegant and exquisite bowler but it is Zaman who built the wins for Pakistan. Any team having openers performing the best, are the best teams in the world... India has best starters and at everage bowlers. A good score is easy to defend for bowlers but low score is too tough to defend for bowlers . Zaman is the man of all four games of the ct17.....
@fahad bhai, with all these heavily inclined batting changes, Pakistan bowling reduced opposition to mediocre scores in all four matches except the first one in this CT on these flat tracks so it is hard to buy in to your argument regarding Waseem and Waqar.
Excellent article. Agree with you wholeheartedly
Wow Roha! So well written!
I wasn't in favor of his return, my reason being that talent alone shouldn't be a reason for being corrupt.That being said, luckily for Amir it was hard for Pakistan to produce a bowler of his calibre while he was away, or maybe he was destined to make a comeback.
Whatever be his past, he is a great bowler and has true potential to become a legend.A fan from across the border.
@UMA The way he made Indian batting look like only showed us there batting records are only against weaker teams like Zimbabwe,Bangladesh,This Indian team looked like minnows of cricket in CT2017 final,quite honestly it was not even a contest where Indian team were decimated to the ground biting the dust.No wonder they deserved 21 Gun salute.
Seeing Amir successful against Indians is not enough . He must show his ability to take wickets consistently!! Which we never saw !
@UMA Lions don't rise from their own ashes; proverbiallt speaking, of course.
@Arif Kaderbhoy I agree, but it is very difficult to score a century in the finals
This guy is a force to be reckon with. Watch out the world of cricket, Amir has arrived and he will put the fear of god in you!!
Well written article with well knitted words - charming!! Read again again.
Morals count more than talent. He earned a bad name for the nation and did not deserve to wear the green cap again.
There is little point in discussing the past but Amir was saved the blushes of long term imprisonment as English cricketers supported him being such a rare find in cricket to match some of the greats. After being prevented in playing any form of the game, he has perhaps lost his mojo but his World Cup efforts were commendable. The failings of Amir earlier and the absolute diminutive performance by Riaz Wahab brought youngsters Hassan Ali, Raees Faheem Ashraf and another bowler I forget to hold the mantle of future cricket.
Everybody in cricket world knows Amir potential, our cricket rivals knows, how dangerous and accurate his bowling is! Every bowler's needs support from his fielders, and courage from team mates and management. He has a God gifted talent, please don't discourage, world saw on 18th. Of June, that positive attitude of our boys brought the trophy home. Amir will be great and lethal to his opponents, wait and see.
good piece roha, yes I like you picked up on how aggressive Pakistanis were in 2016 asia cup defending 84 and they did not let go of the aggression even defended a mammoth 338, I also would like to say here the captaincy under which aamir will play, is going to determine his performance, so far sarfaraz has been good he has kept aamir motivated and that can be seen from the game against sl where aamir joined sarfaraz and they chased down the target featuring in 92 runs 8th wicket champion's trophy winning partnership.
We love u amir
@UMA have you been watching cricket or hockey or do you know anything about cricket!
For every catch dropped, for every appeal denied, for every wound sustained and for every disgrace suffered - Mohammad Amir rises again. He lives through and keeps flying, undaunted. Yes this is M Aamir.
@Sarah Sir, one match does not make a champion team. We will see how long it lasts.
With the opening spell Amir reminded the lethal spell of wasim akram in 92 world cup final. Difference was that Amir finished the match straight away and early. He was worthy man of match. He has ability, hunger and now confidence to rise to heights. However what he has done, even this is memorable for long times. He is an asset to be treasured and protected.
Amir should be rewarded for his CT final performance. He Eradicated strongest betting strength
Awesome Amir!
@Syed Ahmed That was the biggest blunder from a rookie captain. The 3 quickshad 12 overs between them, perfect time to wrap up with a much bigger margin.
Amir destroyed the arrogance of India. No matter how the next match will result, but he will be treated respectfully by India. To me he is Man of the match and player of the champions trophy.
Finally amir is appreciated because he didn't left the hope and faith for bright future and he knew that his tremendous ability will rise it again
