Mohammad Abbas bowls like Asif: Mohammad Amir

25-year-old Mohammad Amir rattled the Indian line-up in the Champions Trophy finals in England this year. He has been in good form and has been an asset to Pakistan cricket. He is just 5 short of 100 Test wickets and has already scalped 50-plus wickets in just 36 ODIs. His 38 wickets from 32 T20I games at an average of 21.63 is outstanding, considering the fact that he bowls with the new ball when the field is up.

Recently, in a conversation with ESPNcricinfo, Amir said that he is fortunate to be back playing cricket. He also credited his bowling partner Mohammad Abbas for complimenting him from the other end and even went on to compare him with Mohammad Asif.

On being asked, since his return, who did he enjoy the most bowling with, Amir named Abbas. “At this time, Abbas is bowling the new ball really well with me. That was a problem we were having, in Tests especially, but seeing Abbas I’m very happy. He is very accurate, bowls really well within his limits. That means there is less pressure on me, because he contains it from his end and so at the other end, I can relax a little bit and go for wickets.” he said

mir said that otherwise if runs are coming from the other end, he also has to try to stop runs from his end. “You go to contain, not take wickets. I’ve really benefited from Abbas at one end.”

Amir recalls bowling with Asif

When about Mohammad Asif, Amir laughed a bit initially and then went on to say “As a pair when we bowled together, we were very dangerous for any side. He used to get wickets – fastest to 100 Test wickets for Pakistan [a record since surpassed by Saeed Ajmal and Yasir Shah]. So there is no doubt whatsoever about his ability. Whoever bowled with him enjoyed it. Abbas, I think, is a bowler like him, in that mould and I really enjoy having him at the other end.”