Fast bowler Mohammad Amir's return to international cricket was put on hold after the first Twenty20 between Pakistan and New Zealand was a washout on Thursday. Shaheen Shah Afridi clean-bowled debutant Tim Robinson for a duck and New Zealand was 2-1 after two balls before rain denied further play in a reduced five-over-a-side game. The toss was delayed for half an hour because of light drizzle in Rawalpindi, and just when Afridi was due to bowl the first ball, rain held up play for more than two hours. The teams will return for the second T20 of five on Saturday. Amir and allrounder Imad Wasim came out of retirements and made themselves available for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and United States in June, and the Pakistan selectors named them in the 17-man squad for the five-match home series against New Zealand. Imad wasn't picked to play but Amir was in his hometown for his first international in four years. Both sides are using the series to prepare for the T20 World Cu
In 2010, the world came crashing on the then 18-year-old Amir when he along with then Pakistan captain Salman Butt and senior pacer Mohammad Asif were caught in the web of match-fixing
The former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir, who tormented many batters with his inswinging deliveries, is currently settled in the United Kingdom
Wasim Akram has rapped the national team management and selectors for ignoring left-arm pace bowler Muhammad Amir when it comes to selection in the national side for the short formats
Pacer Mohammad Amir slammed coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis for spoiling his image
Hafeez along with debutant Haider Ali (54) stitched a 100-run stand for third wicket as Pakistan post 190-4
Wahab Riaz may replace Mohammad Aamir in Pakistan playing 11 after the latter has showed some hamstring issues during the second T20 International
Malan and Morgan then got together at the crease and collected 112 runs for the third wicket to take their side near the finishing line
According to weather forecast, there is no chance of rainfall at the Old Trafford, Manchester during the second T20 International match
Tom Banton's explosive 71 off 42 balls proved to be in vain for England as the first Twenty20 international against Pakistan was abandoned as a no result because of rain in Manchester
There are chances of a light shower in Manchester during the match. However, after 8 pm local and 12:30 am IST, there is no forecast of rainfall and we may get a clear winner in reduced over match.
Aamir, who quit playing Test cricket, will feature in the three-match T20 series against England to be played in a bio-secure environment at the Old Trafford, Manchester starting August 28
Amir, 28, left many people disappointed including the national team's head coach and chief selector, Misbah-ul-Haq when he announced his sudden retirement from Test cricket last year
Lifting the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup is the best moment of his career till now, says Steve Smith
Pakistan will send 28 players and 14 player support personnel for three Tests and three T20Is to be played in August and September
Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz, who was also left out of the central contract list, is still part of the WhatsApp group
Naseem Shah and Iftikhar Ahmad are the two new faces in the 18-player men's central contract list for the 2020-21 season
PCB chairman Ehsan Mani also clarified that the Pakistan players would not be given any unusual cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic
According to the 53-year-old, Pakistan will need Amir in the upcoming two Tests in Australia (November-December) and then in the Test series in England (slated for next year).
Pakistan left-arm fast bowler said that he wants to be physically fit as he aims to feature in the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia