Wellington, Jan 31(IANS) Pakistan cricket head coach Waqar Younis believes Mohammad Amir, who has picked up five scalps in his first two One-Day Internationals, is slowly getting to his best after a five-year hiatus.
Amir has been constantly breaching the 140-kph mark and was able to surprise even Brendon McCullum in the ODI at Eden Park with a bouncer which got him the destructive batsman’s wicket.
“I still feel Amir’s not at his best at the moment. I always knew that it’s going to take some time. But he’s getting there,” Waqar was quoted as saying by espncricinfo on Sunday.
“He’s started swinging the ball back at right-handers, which I think is key for the left-arm fast bowlers. And he’s getting his pace back.”
Amir’s comeback tour has drawn a mixed range of reactions from spectators and fellow players, and so Waqar added that the management is slowly trying to get him into the thick of things and not throw him into it.
“There’s still a lot of pressure for Amir, playing international cricket,” Waqar said.
“We’re trying to ease him into it — not expecting blasts from him. As long as he gets to his peak, when the time is right, hopefully he’ll deliver the goods for Pakistan.”