Mohammad Amir, competing in a club match while serving a five-year ban for spot-fixing might be facing trouble with the ICC, but the Pakistan pacer has managed to earn the goodwill of the cricketers with whom he played. Amir was described as dreadful while bowling but “nice and down to earth” off the field, by the players of Addington, the club for which Amir turned up. Amir’s appearance in the match created a storm and the ICC is investigating if the Pakistani defied his five-year ban by playing for Addington. But for Raheal Shafi, an Addington batsman, Amir’s simplicity was heart-warming and he even prayed that the young bowler’s appearance for the club does not land him in trouble.
“He arrived really early with a few of the other guys. He was very down-to-earth. No one would have known he was an international star. He was giving tips to some of the lads on how to bowl and he just got on with playing cricket,” Shafi was quoted as saying by ‘The Daily Telegraph. Shafi said everyone was impressed with Amir’s speed which forced rival batsmen to wear helmets, which they generally avoid while competing at that level. “He was probably holding back his pace but he was still very quick to the other guys. The keeper took a couple of short ones and said he bowled quick. Most of the guys at our level don’t wear helmets but they did on Saturday.”
