Islamabad:
He might have been booed by fans in his comeback, but tainted pacer Muhammad Aamir’s reintegration into the Pakistan dressing room is going ahead smoothly, PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan has said.
“The board is fully supportive of Aamir and he is now adjusting well into the team. His reintegration in the dressing room is going smoothly,” Khan said.
Aamir enjoyed the best spell since his comeback to the team this month by taking three wickets against New Zealand in a T20 match but had to limp off with a calf strain and also faced taunts from some spectators at the Basin Reserve.
At one stage his teammate Muhammad Hafeez came to his rescue when Aamir, while fielding at third man, had to face taunts from a spectator who waved dollar bills at him.
“Obviously what happened today is disturbing for Aamir and the team but mentally they are prepared for these things and are strong enough to deal with such situations,” Khan said.
Aamir returned to the Pakistan team for the tour to New Zealand after serving a five-year ban for spot fixing.
A source in the team told PTI it was Hafeez, who noticed the spectator waving dollar bills at Aamir, brought this to the notice of the umpires and the security officials with the team.
“The spectator was than given a firm warning by the groundstaff and security. But Aamir has tried to take it on the chin but is disturbed,” the source said.
Ironically, Hafeez and Azhar Ali had protested publicly over Aamir’s return to the national camp last month but the source said they were now helping Aamir reintegrate into the squad.
“Aamir has repeatedly apologised to them and the rest of the players and has promised he will become a role model from now on.”
Shaharyar Khan also made it clear the board would back Aamir and dismissed speculation over Aamir bowling a wide off his first delivery back in ODIs.
Ironically, Aamir had also bowled a wide in the first T20 international against New Zealand.
