ZCZC
BSP-19
CRICKET-AMIR-KHULNA
BPL record no match for Champions Trophy performance: Amir
DHAKA, Jan 14, 2020 (BSS) – Khulna Tigers Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir was reluctant to compare his Champions Trophy performance with the one with his record bowling in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL), stating that nothing could come close to that performance which helped Pakistan win the trophy, beating archrivals India.
Amir’s first spell saw him claimed the big scalps of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan to reduce India to 33-3 in ninth over in the chase of 335 and thereby scripted Pakistan’s overwhelming 180-run victory to clinch the trophy.
Pakistan’s victory against India in an ICC event was a rare scenario and therefore his performance garnered a huge praise for him.
In a reminiscence of his Champions Trophy performance, Mohammad Amir put up an intriguing display of swing bowling to crush the top order of Rajshahi Royals in the first Qualifier of BBPL and returned figures of 6-17 to help Khulna Tigers seal the final.
It was not only his first five-for in T20 cricket but also the best bowling record in BPL history, eclipsing his compatriot Mohammad Sami’s 5-6.
“Champions Trophy spell was bit special for me as it was a historic game for me because we beat India to clinch the trophy,” Amir said here on Monday after his bowling spell helped Khulna won the match against Rajshahi by 27 runs.
“This one is also special because this is my career-best figure but you cannot compare them because that was 50-over game and this is a 20- over game,” he added.
“That was international game and this is league game but emotions are always same. I want to give 100 percent whether I am playing an international game or league game. I think both are same,” he said, adding that he feels luck plays a big part behind performing in this manner.
“I always believe in luck because sometimes you bowl well and don’t get wickets and sometimes you get a wicket in full toss or wide balls,” he said.
He said that bowling in the right areas proved dividend for him against Rajshahi Royals in the first qualifier.
“I think when you bowl under lights you have to look for swing and I was bowling in the right areas,” he pointed out.
“I know both of their openers were in good touch and so I thought if I get both of them we had a good chance to win,” he said adding that batsmen give them a good total to defend in the qualifier.
Opener Nazmul Hossain Shanto played a sublime 57 ball-78 not out as Khulna recovered from a slow start to pile up 158-3 in a tougher surface.
“Credit goes to the batters as it was not easy for the batters. There was a little bit of movement for the bowlers. Credit goes to Shanto for the way he played .They gave us a decent total in the board to defend,” he concluded.
BSS/SMP/MMA/1905hrs