Amir: 'I cannot deliver in a day'

Pakistan's left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir has said he will take time to get up to a competent performance level in tune with people's expectations from him in international cricket.

Mohammad Amir took 12 wickets in the four Tests against England.

Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has said he does not have a magic wand to start performing up to expectations immediately after returning to international cricket after nearly six years. Amir, 22, returned to the Pakistan team on the tour to New Zealand early this year after completing a five-year ban for spot fixing last September. He was also a part of the team during the recently concluded tour of England.

“Whenever I play, there are a lot of expectations. But the thing is I don’t have a magic wand. This is international cricket and you cannot deliver in a day,” Amir told The News newspaper in an interview in England. “I have come back to this level of cricket after six years. I know I have to work hard. It will take time. Even when I first started playing international cricket it took me a year before everyone started noticing me,” he added.

Pakistan Cricket Board used its influence to ensure Amir was issued a visa for the tour to England despite the pacer's fixing scandal in the country in 2010. Amir had also served about six months in a juvenile jail in the United Kingdom before returning home.

Underwhelming returns

After he got a visa to tour England, people expected him to be Pakistan’s trump card in the Test and limited-overs series. However, Amir finished with 12 wickets in four Tests and just four in four ODIs, including 3 for 50 in Pakistan’s only win in the final ODI in Cardiff.

“During the tour I have observed various things and I know that I need to change. I have to work hard on my fitness and form. Once your level is up, you can really start expressing yourself,” he said.

Amir said there was a lot of pressure on him during the England tour but it helped him prepare for the upcoming series against West Indies and tours to New Zealand and Australia this winter.

“The best thing is that this series (in England) was my biggest pressure tour. It went smoothly and that has added to my confidence. I am sure my performance will be better in New Zealand and Australia as I have done well against them in the past. Personally, I have this feeling that I am getting better with every match,” he said.