Waqar Younis: Why can't Pakistan give Mohammad Amir another chance?

Pakistan Head Coach Waqar Younis explains in an interview with guest writer Sajid Sadiq, of www.pakpassion.net, why he'd have no issue if the Pakistan Cricket Board want to pick Mohammad Amir...

Click here to read the interview in full...

Sajid Sadiq: Have you forgiven Mohammad Amir for his actions of 2010?

Waqar Younis: "We all have to move forward. I think Amir has served his sentence and has served his punishment and I honestly feel that he deserves a second chance. It's not that we need someone like him badly in the team at the moment, but our culture and religion allows people to come back if they have made a mistake and served their punishment, so why can't we give Mohammad Amir another chance?

"I have given a thumbs up to the Pakistan Cricket Board and the selectors that if PCB want to pick Mohammad Amir then it is fine with me and I have no issues with that."

Sajid: Do you feel though that with five years of his career lost, Amir can be the bowler he once was and could potentially have been? 

Waqar: "That is impossible to predict. I've only seen a few clips of him bowling recently in the Bangladesh Premier League. He looked OK, but the most impressive thing was that he looked hungry for wickets and success. He needs time at the international level and we cannot expect instant success from him.

"Once he gets back into his rhythm I feel he has a lot to offer. He's only 23 and some bowlers don't peak until after this age so he has a lot of cricket ahead of him and plenty to offer his country."

Sajid: How tough would it be to integrate Amir into the side?

Waqar: "We all need to be very careful and very honest when it comes to this situation. When Mohammad Amir is brought back into the Pakistan squad then it's very important for all parties to sit down and clear the air.

"It will be important that the PCB sits down with the players and explains to them that Amir has served his punishment and that he deserves another chance. I don't think it will be a problem as none of these boys are bad people and will understand the situation."

Click here to read the interview in full...