Mohammad Amir to emerge as better bowler following end of 5-year ban: Mentor

Karachi, Apr 12(ANI): Spot -fixing convict Mohammad Amir's mentor Asif Bajwa has expressed confidence that the player will make a comeback as a better bowler at the end of five year ban on him.

"I know Amir very well and I am confident that he will come back to professional cricket as an even better bowler this time around, so batsmen had better be aware. I have started to work with him on the mental side of the game again and when he returns to Rawalpindi next month then we will start working again on his fitness levels and his cricketing skills. Amir was very keen to start working with me on his fitness upon his return to Pakistan but I advised him to rest for now until May," Pak.Passion.net quoted Bajwa as saying.

Bajwa, who was Amir's school-teacher and cricket coach from the age of 11, confirmed that he had kept in touch with him through his lawyers throughout his custodial sentence.

He revealed that Amir wants to educate and coach the youngsters and make them aware of not falling into the traps he fell into.

"Amir is very keen to coach the young boys who I work with and to help them with their cricket skills. He is adamant that he wants to help the youngsters, to guide them and to tell them about the mistakes he made and for them not to fall into the same traps that he did," he added.

On being asked whether he had noticed any significant changes in Amir's personality after his return to Pakistan, Bajwa said:

"Amir went to England for the trial as a boy, he has come back to Pakistan as a man. Whilst the period of custody was only 3 months, I have noticed a big change in Amir's outlook on life. There is a certain degree of maturity about him in the way he was speaking or even what he was saying, I was impressed with what he had to say about his future." (ANI)