Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower said on Saturday that pacer Mohammad Amir has only himself to blame if he suffers abuse from the crowd during Pakistan’s tour of England this summer.
The former Zimbabwe batsman said that he expects such incidents against the left-arm fast-bowler in the coming Test series, but argued that it was the pacer’s own wrongdoing which led him to this position.
“There will probably be some abuse from crowds,” he said. “However, he shouldn’t have done it [spot-fixing] in the first place, so it’s his own fault. If he gets that stick he’s got to deal with it,” he added.
Nevertheless, the 45-year-old believes the left-armer will be able to deal with the situation.
“He [Amir] seems pretty mature. He speaks well and he seems like he’s got a level head on his shoulders so he’ll be fine,” he said.
The 24-year-old is expected to return to the scene of his crime when the first Test against England begins at Lord’s on Thursday. That is where he conspired with fellow players Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif to bowl deliberate no-balls in 2010.
All three were subsequently imprisoned for their part in the plot, with Amir serving three months in a young offenders’ institute. He was also banned for five years by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Earlier, England Test captain Alastair Cook made similar comments about Amir, where he warned the left-armer to expect abuse from the crowd when Pakistan play their first Test against the hosts at Lord’s cricket ground.
“I’m sure there will be a reaction and that is right,” he said. “That is part and parcel, and when you do something like that there are more consequences than just the punishment. That is something for him to cope with, whatever comes his way,” he added.
However, Pakistan chief selector Inzamamul Haq responded to Cook’s comments, claiming that this is part of a campaign to pressurise the 24-year-old because he is a real threat to the hosts.
“I see this as the start of a campaign to start pressuring Amir,” he said. “And this because not only England, but even Australia and South Africa see him as a threat.”
Pakistan’s tour of England this summer includes four Tests, five ODIs and one T20I.
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