Veteran Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir's coach, Asif Bajwa, reminisces about his ward's journey, from the notorious spot-fixing scandal to his recent comeback and everything in between. Once hailed as the next Wasim Akram, Pakistani bowler Mohammad Amir's cricketing journey has been a rollercoaster ride. At 32, the left-arm pacer is making an unexpected comeback, coming out of retirement for Pakistan's ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the West Indies and the USA. Mohammad Amir was Pakistan cricket's golden boy until the 2010 spot-fixing scandal at Lord's brought his dream career to a halt. A prodigy at 18, he was banned and jailed for his involvement in the spot-fixing saga. Many wrote him off, but his mentor, Asif Bajwa, never lost faith.

Mohammad Amir, once tipped to be better than Wasim Akram, is now making another comeback at 32

At the age of 32, Pakistani left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir, once compared to the legendary Wasim Akram, is embarking on an unexpected return to cricket. He has come out of retirement to participate in Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, to be held in the West Indies and the USA. Eight years have passed since Amir made "the comeback," and four years since he announced his retirement from international cricket. After all that's unfolded, what's surprised Bajwa even more is that the left-arm fast bowler will once again represent Pakistan at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. In 57 T20Is, the left-arm seamer has taken 64 wickets at an economy rate of 7.2.

"He will be back. Them asking him to return from his retirement in 2024 is more shocking for us. It feels like they haven't prepared well. You don't have the bowlers," Mohammad Amir's coach, Asif Bajwa said in a recent interview.

The comeback in 2016 was not a smooth one as he faced backlash from former teammates and critics, and went through immense scrutiny. In 2020, the frustrations led him into an abrupt retirement. But the fire kept burning as he became a vocal critic of Pakistan's tactics from the commentary box. The latest comeback, at 32, has renewed doubts about his form and potential tensions with the current team. However, Mohammad Amir's domestic performances have been promising, and Bajwa believes that Amir can still contribute immensely to Pakistan.

"Now that I have made a comeback, I have just one aim, to win the World Cup for Pakistan. No matter what it takes," Bajwa shared what Amir told him.

Pakistan is looking to bounce back in the four-match T20I series against England after losing in the second match and the other two getting washed out. The team led by Babar Azam struggled with the ball and kept losing wickets at regular intervals during their chase. Pakistan will likely back their boys and go with the same team for the 4th T20I against England. The Men in Green are in Group A with India, Ireland, and the hosts, USA and Canada. They will face arch-rivals India on June 9 at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.