Mohammad Amir has said that he is eager to take Pakistan “over the line” in the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup as the Green Shirts recently reached the semi-final and final of the tournaments but couldn’t win it.
Talking in a video posted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the left-armer gave credit for bringing him back to the team to the management and former T20I skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi.
“The credit [for bringing me back] goes to the management of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shaheen [Afridi], they brought me back with trust, and there is some sort of pressure of fulfilling that promise,” Amir said.
“I think I am coming back after almost four years, and when you are representing your country, it is a different moment and honestly, it feels like it is my debut series.”
Amir, 32, was part of the 2009 T20 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy winning side and contributed greatly in both titles. He is, once again, ready to play his part for the country as the mega event is less than two months away.
“I came in 2009 for the first time, and Pakistan became the world champions. Then we played the 2017 Champions Trophy final, we became champions. PCB management brought me back with a short term goal that is the World Cup,” he added.
“Because the Pakistani team has played semi-final and final in recent tournaments, there is a line that we have to cross [winning the tournament], if that is achieved, for me, it would be a privilege that I was part of that team.”
He then stated that his fitness level is better than in 2019 as he has played league cricket around the world in recent years and feels his body is much fitter than it was back in the day.
“I think my fitness level is much better than it was in 2019 because I’m feeling fitter than I ever did in recent years. If you are not fit, you cannot express yourself in the ground, no matter how many skills do you have. I believe with the fitness level I have right, I can contribute greatly to the team,” the 32-year-old said.
“I think that the biggest positive energy for me was my wife and my children. I love my daughters and the time I spend with them is my motivational time. She [my wife] makes sure that my entire focus is on cricket, so I guess that gave me the energy to face all the things.”
- Mohammad Amir