NFL | Page 7 CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 8 Brady loses Froome on bid for new the attack hearing in again, Sagan ‘Defl ategate’ wins stage Thursday, July 14, 2016 BOXING Shawwal 9, 1437 AH Pacquiao plans GULF TIMES to fi ght again this year: promoter SPORT Page 6 CRICKET / ENG VS PAK, 1ST TEST Pakistan unites behind Amir ahead of Lord’s return ‘From the first day, he said he would work to make himself worthy again. After five long years, his punishment served, he is back’ AFP Karachi hen Pakistan’s Mohamed Amir takes to the fi eld at Lord’s today, the bowler can expect overwhelming support from his homeland as he faces a potentially prickly reception from the English crowd. WThe 24-year-old appears almost certain to make his return to Test cricket at the home of cricket — where he and two teammates were found guilty of arranging no-balls to order as part of an elabo- rate betting scam devised by a tabloid journalist six years ago. The trio served jail sentences over the aff air in what was per- haps the biggest scandal to hit the sport. England’s captain Alastair Cook has already stated Amir can expect “a reaction” from English spectators while former English cricketers Kevin Pietersen and spinner Graeme Swann have joined the ranks of those calling for a life ban for all fi xers. Back home in Pakistan, however, ex-players and most fans have come around to forgiving the left-arm pacer, citing his youth at the time of his crime and early admission — though some still have reservations about what example his return sets to would-be fi xers. Legendary bowler Wasim Akram, who led the country to their last Test series win in England in 1996, said he believes Amir can weather the hostility. “People want Amir to do well so there will be enormous pres- sure on him but I am confi dent that he will come out a winner,” he told AFP. Mohamed Asif, one of Amir’s co-conspirators who is now playing club cricket in Norway, also pleaded for understanding. “I request to England players and fans to allow Amir to play free- ly. He and two of us others committed a mistake, were punished and now our bans are over so let us play,” he said. Despite initial resistance from certain players, Amir’s current teammates have united behind him while fans almost unanimously back their hero. ROAD TO REDEMPTION? “What happened with Amir is now past,” said Shariq Mahmood from Karachi, a die-hard fan who travelled to India to watch the World Twenty20 in March this year. “The way he (Amir) is bowling I think he will bamboozle Eng- land batsmen with his swing,” he added, referring to the young- ster’s slew of wickets against Sussex in a warm-up match where his fast pace and late movement won wickets and praise. Zaair Hussain, a project manager at a game studio in La- hore, added: “The return of Amir has been something I’ve been eagerly awaiting — the redemption at the end of this long tragic arc. “A young man stupidly threw away one of the most promis- ing careers of his generation over a pittance. From the fi rst day, he said he would work to make himself worthy again. After fi ve long years, his punishment served, he is back and a live wire on the pitch.” A few, however, expressed ambivalence because of Amir’s per- ceived lack of humility since his return and the troubling signal his comeback sends in a country that has been tainted by the spectre of match-fi xing since the 1990s. Pakistan start the tour fi rm underdogs, though are considered to have their best chance of victory in the four-match Test series where much will rest on the ability of Amir and leg-spinner Yasir Shah. “Watching him bowl in Tests, especially in England was a thing of joy so I can’t not look forward to that,” said Sana Kazmi, an education consultant in Karachi. “But also, personally, as a fan, I just needed him to say ‘Sorry I screwed up’ unconditionally and he never did that. ‘I’m sorry I got misled’ is not quite the same thing for me.” The diff ering approach by the Pakistan Cricket Board to Asif and Amir’s former captain Salman Butt, both of whom remain out of national contention despite having also served their bans — has also irked some. “He’s a phenomenal talent, phenomenal,” said marketing pro- fessional Anthony Permal from Karachi. “So we’re teaching our children that if you’re really good at what you do, we will forget your sins. But, if you’re mediocre, get ready to be thrown under the bus.” Gulf Times 2 Thursday, July 14, 2016 CRICKET FOCUS Akram’s advice to Amir: ‘It won’t be easy but enjoy it’ By Vic Marks was central to those victories, as an irrepressible in the 90s. “England have shown remarkable that. If not, Misbah, who was 18 at the time, can The Guardian all-rounder in 1992, who matured into a rela- confi dence in the last 18 months so they will be surely enlighten them. tively calm, diplomatic captain four years later. tough to beat. For me the only way is to do ‘tit for This was Ian Botham’s last Test match and Wasim seldom seemed to overcomplicate the tat’ in all departments of the game if you want to one of his worst; it was Ian Salisbury’s fi rst and he Pakistan team has had to endure a game – why bother when blessed with so much beat them.” probably one of his best. There were no runs of barrage of reminders of the events of natural talent? Looking ahead to today’s Test, Certainly Pakistan’s 2016 bowling attack, al- signifi cance for Botham, who was fl ummoxed six years ago. Three of their 2016 squad he has acknowledged: “It won’t be easy for him though not so proven, has similar characteris- by Waqar’s reverse swing — it was no fun batting have fi rst-hand knowledge of a Lord’s [Amir]. But my advice to him will be to enjoy the tics to that of the 90s, with the prospect of Amir, in the middle order against that Pakistan side. TTest match that started so brilliantly for them game. He has got pace and skill, so go out and the old tearaway Wahab Riaz plus another pace- Botham soon aggravated a groin strain, which, but which ended up with the team and the try to do your best. Amir can be the leader of the man alongside the gifted wrist spinner, Yasir along with a badly bruised toe courtesy of the tour in disarray, Azhar Ali, Wahab Riaz and, of pack that also has a quality leg-spinner in Ya- Shah. They are no more likely to hold back than Pakistan pace attack, prevented him bowling course, Mohamed Amir. The rest have only to sir Shah, who can be the trump card in a varied the side which conjured a cliff hanger of a victory more than fi ve overs. Salisbury took fi ve wick- glimpse the previews of a much-anticipated bowling attack”. back in the Lord’s Test of 1992. ets in the match and hung around pluckily as a contest today to be confronted by the narra- Wasim was never an advocate of conserva- That was quite a fractious tour, though not nightwatchman. tive of the grimmest of Test matches. England tive caginess. Pakistan are at their best when by the standards of 2010 or 2006. There were But the key fi gures were inevitably Wasim and also have just three survivors from that game they attack, giving free rein to pace bowlers umpiring controversies, ball-tampering alle- Waqar. They shared 13 wickets and then came now that Jimmy Anderson has been ruled out and wrist spinners. That is what they did in gations and sweater-tossing drama (involving together with Pakistan 95 for eight and needing – Alastair Cook, Steven Finn and Stuart Broad, the 90s when there was Waqar Younis along- the umpire Roy Palmer at Old Traff ord). Javed 139 to win against England’s three-man attack who hit a superb, almost forgotten century. side Wasim and another paceman (it might be Miandad, as captain, was less inclined to be as (Phil DeFreitas had also acquired a groin injury Misbah-ul-Haq’s Pakistan must crave better Aaqib Javed or Ata-ur-Rehman) abetted by Former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram conciliatory a fi gure as Wasim in 1996. by then). templates for playing at Lord’s, which is often the impish wrist spinner, Mushtaq Ahmed, There was also a pulsating fi nish on the Sun- For once Wasim and Waqar combined bril- regarded as the pinnacle of a Test cricketer’s ca- who is currently part of the Pakistan coach- of wickets was usually successful. day of the Lord’s Test match when 17 wickets liantly with bats in their hand. Still trusting reer, and they exist. Pakistan prevailed at Lord’s ing team, having served an apprenticeship of Wasim now counsels an equally forthright fell. That is the Lord’s Test that Pakistan play- their aggressive instincts they stayed together on both their visits in 1992 and 1996. The man to sorts in England’s ranks. That attack seldom approach against an England side that may be ers of today would like to remember and a good until the end, whereupon there were rather whom Amir is often compared, Wasim Akram, took a backward step and the headlong pursuit more challenging than the ones he encountered number of them are just about old enough to do more smiles in the Pakistan camp than in 2010.