Shoaib Akhtar wants Mohammed Amir to return and, potentially, win the World Twenty20 for Pakistan. But he also acknowledges and recognises the strength of opinion of those who do not want to play with him.
Of all those who have spoken on Amir’s return to cricket, which gathers pace with almost every appearance he makes, it is the perspective of Shoaib’s which is worth listening to most.
On Thursday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan coach Waqar Younis both endorsed the idea that Amir is likely to return to the national side, but admitted it could be a delicate process of reintegration.
Watch: Shoaib Akhtar speaks in Abu Dhabi about India-Pakistan and Mohammed Amir
Shoaib’s international career was bookended by two corruption scandals that engulfed many of his teammates but never touched him. In fact, his spotless navigation of the many temptations of corruption through his career is one of the badges he wears particularly proudly, and an issue he feels strongly about.
But he was no stranger to disciplinary issues, once incurring a five-year ban from the PCB for indiscipline, among other suspensions, punishments and run-ins with teammates in an eventful career.
So the inherent greyness in the situation is clear to him. “I can understand the other side, of those people who really don’t want him to play,” he said in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
“I really understand, I really respect that criticism that once you destroy the country’s name, that he should not get a second chance, I respect that opinion, I think they are right.
“But at the same time, the other side, those people who say, ‘he has served his sentence, he has served his time in jail and if he does it again’, [then punish him], then I agree with those people as well.”
Among others, Mohammed Hafeez has been a vocal proponent of the argument for not letting Amir return. He has said publicly he would not feel comfortable in sharing a dressing room with the player, who served a five-year ICC ban as well as a jail sentence for his part in spot-fixing at Lord’s in 2010.
Hafeez was one of the players in that 2010 team who bore the brunt of intense media scrutiny of the side in the aftermath, as well as no little criticism and accusation. At least one other player in the Pakistan side is also said to be uneasy with Amir’s return, though, significantly, the two senior players in the Test set-up – Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan – are in the camp that feels he deserves a second chance.
But Shoaib warned Amir of how difficult the reintegration will be. Already Amir has had a run-in with former Pakistan batsman Faisal Iqbal at domestic level, where the latter was reported to have called Amir “a thief” (it was said to be in response to Amir sledging him first).
Read more: Osman Samiuddin's Sporting Read on Misbah-ul-Haq and the inner workings of a captain's mind
“There will be a lot of mistrust in him, every time he is going to run in, there will be a billion eyes judging him,” Shoaib said. “It’s not going to be easy on him, I don’t know whether he knows that or doesn’t. If I was in his place, God forbid I shouldn’t be, but I would have been so scared to be in his place now.”
When he was still playing and before Amir was banned, Shoaib had actually once approached Amir, to offer him advice about the pitfalls of the fame and celebrity Amir was approaching.
That move was rebuffed which, given the public perception of Shoaib at the time, is not entirely surprising. But in hindsight of the gravity of Amir’s misdemeanours and the strength of Shoaib’s opinions on fixing, it is worth wondering what might have been had Amir taken up Shoaib on the offer.
“My opinion is help the child,” said Shoaib. “Let’s guide him once again, tell him what is the right thing to do. I understand opinions from both sides, they are both right, both saying the right things.
“It depends on the PCB, as to how they now take this to the next level. If they want that Amir should play, then get the trust of the team, speak to teammates and tell them be easy on him, let’s trust him once again and then take it forward.
“I don’t mind if Hafeez is saying or any other guys who don’t want to play with him or share a dressing room with him, I totally understand that. But having said all that, he deserves a second chance.”
The final seal of approval came later, in discussing Pakistan’s chances in the World Twenty20. Having returned to domestic cricket and taken wickets, Amir has been in irrepressible form in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) where he has come across a more global standard of competition and not looked out of place at all.
Pakistan’s limited overs sides, at the same time, have been deeply unimpressive and their bowling, in particular, has suffered. Last week they were clean swept by England in a three-match Twenty20 series, as well as losing the ODI series 1-3.
Amir returning for the World Twenty20 – or even before – is easy to imagine having a beneficial aspect on-field at least.
“Pakistan need to get their act and combination right,” Shoaib said. “It is not rocket science. You got to find a matchwinner, guide him, train him, put him out there. And make him understand the game and how to win it.
“I want Pakistan to win [the World Twenty20 in India], it’s the most dangerous side. If they get their combo right, I think they have a fair chance of winning it. Play more spinners – three spinners and two fast bowlers. Having said all this, get Amir back in side because what’s more important is to win the world cup. I’m sure Amir can run in and win the world cup for you.”
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Super Saturday results
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, Brett Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Old Persian, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
Aggro%20Dr1ft
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Harmony%20Korine%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Jordi%20Molla%2C%20Travis%20Scott%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
The biog:
Languages: Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, basic Russian
Favourite food: Pizza
Best food on the road: rice
Favourite colour: silver
Favourite bike: Gold Wing, Honda
Favourite biking destination: Canada
Left Bank: Art, Passion and Rebirth of Paris 1940-1950
Agnes Poirer, Bloomsbury
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HyveGeo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abdulaziz%20bin%20Redha%2C%20Dr%20Samsurin%20Welch%2C%20Eva%20Morales%20and%20Dr%20Harjit%20Singh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECambridge%20and%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESustainability%20%26amp%3B%20Environment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%20plus%20undisclosed%20grant%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVenture%20capital%20and%20government%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Scores
Oman 109-3 in 18.4 overs (Aqib Ilyas 45 not out, Aamir Kaleem 27) beat UAE 108-9 in 20 overs (Usman 27, Mustafa 24, Fayyaz 3-16, Bilal 3-23)
The past Palme d'Or winners
2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda
2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund
2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach
2015 Dheepan, Jacques Audiard
2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux
2012 Amour, Michael Haneke
2011 The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul
2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke
2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
RESULT
Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)
Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Secret Pigeon Service: Operation Colomba, Resistance and the Struggle to Liberate Europe
Gordon Corera, Harper Collins
Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
Frida%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarla%20Gutierrez%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Frida%20Kahlo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A