Mohammad Amir backed to handle spotlight on Lord's return after spot-fixing charge

Mohammad Amir can handle the strain of playing international cricket in England for the first time since he was charged with spot-fixing, insists Pakistan team-mate Azhar Ali.

Amir is likely to be one of Pakistan’s key bowlers in their four-match series, starting in July. In 2010, Amir was found to have bowled no-balls deliberately in the Lord’s Test. Amir was given a six-month prison sentence, of which he served half in a young offenders’ institute, on charges of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat at gambling.

The First Investec Test against Pakistan this summer will also be at Lord’s and Amir faces huge scrutiny if he plays. But Pakistan one-day captain Azhar said: “It has been a while now since he has been with us. It could have been tough, had he come in straight on such a tour, but now, after playing with us for a long time, things have settled. He isn’t under pressure because he has already made his comeback a few months ago and the toughest phase is over for him.

“I know England was the place where the incident happened but hopefully he can handle the pressure like he did on his comeback. But still if anything happens, we, as a team, will handle it.”

Amir, and the other spot-fixers, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, were cleared to return in September.