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County glory is ephemeral, country glory is eternal: Akhtar reminds Amir

Rawalpindi Express advises southpaw seamer to reconsider decision to retire from Tests.

By Web Desk

August 22, 2019

Shoaib Akhtar urges Mohammad Amir to reconsider his Test retirement, as his six wicket haul in Essex proves that the lethal fast bowler is in good shape to play the longest format. Photo: AFP/Reuters

Pace legend Shoaib Akhtar has urged fast bowler Mohammad Amir to reconsider his retirement from Tests and do for Pakistan what he is doing for his English county side Essex.

Amir recently took a six-for in Essex’s win over Kent in a four-day match, and looked as lethal as he ever had, generating enough pace and swing.

The vintage display of bowling made critics question his decision to quit playing Tests for Pakistan at the tender age of 27.

Akhtar weighed in on the debate, saying that Amir’s rich vein of form probably has to do with the conditions in England but urged the southpaw to still revisit his decision.

“Is the management in England better? Or are the wickets better there? Is Amir being handled better there that he is taking wickets? All of this is true, and also there is no pressure on Amir there. Still, I think Amir should have given the same performances for Pakistan,” Akhtar said in a YouTube video.

“[People are saying that] when Mohammad Amir played Tests for Pakistan, he did not give his all, but in county cricket he plays four-day cricket, bowls 30 overs too and bags a six-for too.

“This is a genuine concern, and the people’s anger is justified. This would have been his payback to Pakistan for supporting him. Amir should reconsider retirement and he must play Tests for Pakistan.”

The Rawalpindi Express reminded Amir that county glory is ephemeral while the name made for country remains eternal.

“Legacies are built on what you do for your country. No one remembers what you do in counties. People will remember the Kolkata Test for their whole lives, how I took those wickets. Wasim Akram’s ‘92 spell, and also the one in ‘93 in England Tests. Sachin Tendulkar’s innings in Tests will also be never forgotten.”

Akhtar urged cricketing boards to devise a system that prevents cricketers from picking domestic leagues over international cricket.

“There must be a system that a cricket on whom we’ve invested heavily should not even be able to consider retirement for the first five-six years of their career,” he said.