Mohammad Amir available: The left-arm fast bowler is highly likely to travel to England for the upcoming tour.
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Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir is almost certain to join the national squad in England after the birth of his second child. Amir had previously made himself unavailable as the tour was expected to clash with the expected scheduled time of his wife’s delivery.
Much like all other players, Amir will have to be tested negative twice for COVID-19 before boarding the flight to England. While he is being reported to have tested negative on Monday, the 28-year old player will again be tested in two days’ time.
Given the recent history around Pakistani players testing positive for COVID-19, Pakistan Cricket Board is unlikely to take any risk with respect to forcing Amir’s trip to England.
Mohammad Amir available to join squad for England tour
Fast bowler Haris Rauf, who was named in the original 29-member squad but has since tested COVID-19 positive on five occasions, has eventually been replaced by Amir. Rauf, 26, continues to be asymptomatic and has been advised to self-isolate for the next 10 days.
Having made his T20I debut against Bangladesh at home earlier this year, Rauf was highly likely to play a vital role in the three-match T20I series in England especially after picking 20 wickets at an average of 13.35, an economy rate of 7.05 and a strike rate of 11.3 for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.
Amir, who retired from Test cricket last year, will only be available for the three-match T20I series beginning from August 28. In 48 T20Is for Pakistan, Amir has picked 59 wickets at an average of 20.74, an economy rate of 6.96 and a strike rate of 17.8.
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Amir, who represented Karachi Kings in 10 T20s in the Pakistan Super League earlier this year, had picked 10 wickets at an average of 26.20, an economy rate of 7.52 and a strike rate of 20.9.
Uncapped wicket-keeper batsman Rohail Nazir, who was named in the squad as a third wicket-keeper batsman after Mohammad Rizwan tested positive for COVID-19, will return to Pakistan leaving behind Rizwan and former captain Sarfraz Ahmed to contest for the wicket-keeper’s spot.
