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Pakistan fast bowler Mohammed Amir has responded to current Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s comments made in 2016 on the eve of India's T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Kolkata. Sharma had termed Amir "just a normal bowler".
Amir while speaking to a media house, talked about how he hasn’t thought about the comments "seriously". He then addressed that he can’t be everyone’s favourite bowler.
"I don’t take Rohit Sharma’s statement seriously," Amir said.
“Everyone has his own opinion and it is impossible that everyone regards me as a world-class bowler. There is nothing to be felt bad about it, and as a professional, we should not take such things in a negative way. You cannot be everyone’s favourite,” Amir stated on a private news channel as quoted by ASports.
What did Rohit Sharma say?
While speaking in the pre-game press conference, Sharma said, "Stop talking about him already. He isn’t the only bowler, Pakistan has five other bowlers who are doing well for them. There is just so much hype around him, I don’t think it is right to give him too much hype after one match."
“He is good but he needs to prove it over and over again. Now people are comparing him to Wasim Akram and all that. He is just a normal bowler, on that given day if he is good, he is good. It is not as if he turns up and blows everyone away,” he continued.
Maybe his opinion about me has now changed: Amir
Mohammed Amir had also touched upon the issue while speaking in an interview after winning by defeating India in the final of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. The Pakistani pacer praised his ability and wondered if Sharma’s opinions on his bowling changed now.
Amir said: "That was his opinion about me and he is entitled to that opinion. Maybe his opinion about me has now changed. But let’s get one thing clear, I would never call him an ordinary batsman. In fact, I would call him an extraordinary batsman. His record for India is superb and I respect him."
He then added: “His opinions about other cricketers are up to him, but with all due respect, I never worry about what other cricketers have to say about me. It’s not my concern at all and I just concentrate on my performance and what I am doing for my team."