Fit-Again Mohammad Amir Expected to Play Sunday’s Final vs India

Beware India?

Pakistan pace spearhead Mohammad Amir completed an entire training session on Friday, indicating that he is likely to take the field in Sunday’s ICC Champions Trophy final against India at The Oval.

A back spasm had ruled the pace bowler out of the semi-final against England, shortly before the toss on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media after the training session on Friday, Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood confirmed that Amir was fit but did not indicate whether the speedster would play on Sunday.

"Amir bowled today. Amir is fit. We have not decided about (playing him)," Mahmood was quoted as saying by espncricinfo.

Mahmood dropped enough hints of including the left-arm pacer in the crucial tie with the kind of experience he brings into the side.

"When you go to a final, you want your experienced player, you want him to be fully fit and participating on that particular day. But (we have told him) if he has any doubt, he should let us know."

"At the moment he bowled today. He is fine. Yeah, definitely you would go with Amir, but we don't mind if Amir can't play. If he is not fit, then we have to move on," he added.

The former all-rounder pointed out that Amir's inclusion in the playing XI could be at the cost of rookie Rumman Raees, who took 2/44 on his One-day International (ODI) debut in the semi-final.

"Let us see who is going to play -- Rumman Raees or Amir. Doesn't matter. He (Raees) is a quality bowler as well. And he showed in the semi-finals on a big stage he can do the job for us. So, it is a good sign for us, guys can replace other guys," he said.

Amir, who went wicketless in the first two Group B matches, against India and South Africa, contributed with both the bat and ball against Sri Lanka, to help the Green Brigade sail into the semi-finals.

He complimented his figures of 2/53 with a valuable unbeaten 28 in an eighth-wicket partnership with skipper Sarfraz Ahmed that sealed a semi-final place for Pakistan.