2017 ICC Champions Trophy: Mohammad Amir Wanted To Do Something Exceptional For Pakistan To Make Up For His Wrongdoing, Says His Brother

Seven years ago, an 18-year old Mohammad Amir had become the public number one in Pakistan after being involved in spot-fixing during the Lord’s Test. While Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, the other two involved in the scandal, are still awaiting a call from the national team, the prodigious left-arm pacer made a return to international cricket last year after serving a five-year ban. And while he showed glimpses of his immense potential in the last one year or so, he finally marked his arrival at the international stage and repaid the faith shown in him with a sensational bowling spell that powered his team to its maiden Champions Trophy title.

The 25-year old wreaked havoc on India’s top-order in the summit clash as Pakistan thrashed the defending champions by a whopping margin of 180 runs to lay their hands on the coveted title. Even though Pakistan had posted a daunting 338, the form India’s top-order was in, it was always going to be tough for Pakistani bowlers to contain Virat Kohli & Co. on a flat pitch. However, Amir took the onus on himself and made a mockery of India’s formidable top-order, getting rid of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan with only 33 runs on the board. The damage was done as Pakistan eventually bowled India out for 158 to cap off their remarkable turnaround in the tournament.

Amir fittingly buried his ugly past in that very country where he was involved in the spot-fixing scandal, leaving his brothers, Naveed and Ejaz very delighted. Lauding Amir’s efforts against India, his brothers said it also eased a big burden off their family.

“Our family village, Changa Bungial is near Gujjar Khan near Rawalpindi and after the spot-fixing scandal happened, we were so ashamed and felt bad about facing people. Our family has now settled in Defence Lahore but our roots remain in our village and now when we go there we can proudly look up to our people again,” Naveed told PTI.

“Amir, since completing his punishment, wanted to do something exceptional for Pakistan to make up for his wrongdoing and I think he managed that on Sunday,” he said, adding: “Everyone is calling us from our village and congratulating us on Aamir’s performance in the final.”

Recalling the days when Amir was caught in the spot-fixing scandal, Naveed said: “It was a terrible time for us. Our father was very upset but we all realized that he was just a kid at 18 and had made a mistake and we needed to support him.”