Ramiz Raja: Aamir will be under huge pressure

Amir was recalled to the Pakistan’s limited overs squad to New Zealand today by the national selectors after a five-year ban for his involvement in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal. Ramiz has strongly opposed Amir’s selection.

Ramiz Raja was against the inclusion of Mohammad Amir in the team.

Pakistan’s former Test captain Ramiz Raja feels Mohammad Amir will be under pressure when he makes a comeback to international cricket in the limited-overs series against New Zealand.

Amir was recalled to the Pakistan’s limited overs squad to New Zealand today by the national selectors after a five-year ban for his involvement in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.

Ramiz has strongly opposed Amir’s selection. But on Friday he said he was not surprised at Amir’s inclusion.

“I am not surprised once the cricket board had taken a policy decision to give Amir a second chance. But we have to see how he performs because there will be lot of pressure on him and everything he does will be scrutinised. We have to see what is his form is in international cricket,” Ramiz said.

“The thing is that cricket has advanced a lot since he (Aamir) last played in international cricket. ODIs and T20 cricket have changed a lot and we have to see how he adopts to the changed scenario now,” he added.

The former Test opener felt Aamir had been picked because of his undeniable talent.

Ramiz, however, expressed surprise at the selectors’ decision to omit left-arm pacer Mohammad Irfan from the national T20 squad.

“I am surprised at Irfan not being in T20 squad. I would pick him in both formats since he is a match winner,” he added.

He also questioned the selectors’ decision to pick only two specialist openers in the squads as he noted that conditions in New Zealand were seaming and it would have been better to have a back-up opener in the side.