Grant Flower believes that the Lord's crowd will abuse Mohammad Amir

Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower believes Mohammad Amir will have to face some abuse from the crowd at the Lord’s cricket ground.

Amir played his last Test match six years ago here at the same venue. He intentionally bowled no-balls in the match and that indiscretion for spot-fixing led the left-arm quick to be sentenced a jail term and a five-year ban from the ICC. Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were also banned along with him, and Amir is only one who is making his comeback.

Flower believes the Lord’s crowd will have long memories and they will react to Amir once he is on the field for the first Test match of the series next week. “There will probably be some abuse from crowds,” the former Zimbabwe batsman admitted.

Flower frankly said that he has to deal with whatever reception he receives since it was his fault to commit the mistake. “Well, he shouldn’t have done it in the first place so it’s his own fault. If he gets that stick he’s got to deal with it.”

Also read – Worried about Pakistan’s batting, even with Anderson missing: Wasim Akram

However, Flower said that he is looking a lot more matured now and knows how to deal with the situation. “He (Amir) seems pretty mature. He speaks well and he seems like he’s got a level head on his shoulders so he’ll be OK,” he added.

Earlier former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar had asked Amir to stay humble, regardless of how the crowd reacts. “The best way for Amir to counter pressure is to perform on the field which I am sure he can do. But he also has to remain humble and not show attitude,” he said.

Pakistan will play 4 Tests, 5 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and one Twenty20 international (T20I) in the series against the hosts with the first Test at Lord’s on July 14.