KARACHI - Pakistan’s former Test captain Ramiz Raja feels that M Aamir will be under tremendous pressure when he makes a comeback to international cricket in the limited-overs series against New Zealand.
Aamir was recalled to the Pakistan’s Twenty20 and One-day International squads on Friday by the national selectors after he served a five-year ban and jail term for his involvement in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.
Ramiz has strongly opposed allowing Aamir back into the Pakistan team. But on Friday, he said he was not surprised at Aamir being picked in both squads. “I am not surprised once the cricket board had taken a policy decision to give Aamir 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 fast-tracked back into the national team because of his undeniable talent. Ramiz, however, expressed surprise at the selectors’ decision to omit left-arm pacer M 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 proper back-up opener in the side.