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Karachi - Former Pakistan captain Salman
Butt said on Friday his spot-fixing accomplice Mohammad Amir will be in top
form on his return to Test cricket, just like boxer Muhammad Ali was after his
suspension from boxing.
Pakistan take on England in the first of
four Tests at Lord's from July 14 with the focus on Amir.
He will play his first five-day match at
the same venue where he, Butt and Mohammad Asif were caught in a sting
operation in 2010.
The trio had arranged deliberate no-balls
in return for money during the Lord's Test against England on Pakistan's tour,
resulting in a five-year cricketing ban and jail terms in the UK.
But Amir's ban ended in September last year, and he has since returned to the top of Pakistani cricket.
Butt, 31, said Amir will need to focus on
his game.
"He has bowled well in limited over
matches and can deliver," he said, adding that he did not see any areas
where Amir could improve.
"Long lay-offs can hurt in many ways,
but it depends on individuals and if they show the same hunger and
determination - like Ali did in his forced lay-off - then one can
succeed."
Three-time heavyweight champion Muhammad
Ali, who passed away last month, was suspended from boxing from 1967 until 1970
after refusing to join the US war in Vietnam.
However Butt admitted Amir could face a
hostile reception in England, saying he will "have to ignore" any
enmity. "People will move on once he does well and doesn't react."
Amir, regarded as a rising star at the time
of his ban, pleaded guilty in a UK court.
That pushed his return to domestic matches
six months prior to the lifting of his international ban in September last
year.
He has since played 13 limited over matches
(two one-day and 11 Twenty20 internationals), during which he appeared to have
lost none of his talent.
"There are no doubts that he can be
Pakistan's key bowler against England across formats, just like on the tour of
2010," said Butt.
As for himself, Butt said he also hopes to
return to the international stage in the near future.
Earlier this year he scored 536 runs in the
national one-day cup.
"I am working hard and trying to
perform in any type of cricket I play because that is the only road to get back
into the team," he said.
Former head coach Waqar Younis had demanded
Butt to be included in Pakistan's side for the World Twenty20 in India earlier
this year, but selectors rejected his request.
Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq last month said Butt and Asif will only be considered once they perform in first-class cricket.
