Mohammad Amir's 'extraordinary' reply to Rohit Sharma's 'normal' comment

Bengaluru, July 31: Pakistan paceman Mohammad Amir has responded to Indian batsman Rohit Sharma's comment of him being just a "normal" bowler.

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Left-arm fast bowler Amir, who was banned for 5 years for spot-fixing, has returned to playing and was part of the Champions Trophy 2017 winning team recently. Pakistan defeated India in the final on June 18 to lift the cup.

Mohammad Amir (right) celebrates sending back Virat Kohli in Champions Trophy 2017 final

In March 2016, during the ICC World Twenty20 in India, Rohit had brushed aside comparisons of Amir with pace legend Wasim Akram and had asked the media not to "hype" the youngster.

"Just leave him... He's just come (after the ban) and I don't think we should go gaga about him. Let him perform for one more year and we will see whether he deserves so much. Woh koi... (I don't want to use those words)," Rohit had said.

"He's good but he needs to prove again and again. It's not right to hype him so much after just one match. Not just for him or who are watching it, let him do it over and over again.

"People are comparing him to Wasim Akram and all that. It's wrong. Let him achieve some bit. Definitely he is got talent but aisa kuch nahin ki aake woh sabko uda hi deta hai (it's not that he rips apart all line-ups). He's just a normal bowler who was good on that day," he had opined.

Rohit Sharma (right) walks back to the pavilion after being dismissed by Amir in Champions Trophy final

Now, in an interview with "Sky Sports", Amir was asked about Rohit's comments and he complimented the Mumbaikar by calling him an "extraordinary batsman". Recently, Amir had said Virat Kohli is world's "best batsman".

"That was his (Rohit) opinion about me and he is entitled to that opinion. Maybe his opinion about me has now changed," Amir said.

He continued, "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. 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 performances and what I am doing for my team. If I worried about other people's opinions of me that would just cause me stress and that is why I avoid it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether it's labelling a cricketer world-class or ordinary; it is up to that individual."

In the Champions Trophy final at The Oval, Amir dismissed Rohit for a duck as Pakistan won by 180 runs. He took 3 wickets (Rohit, Shikhar Dhawan, Kohli) for 16 runs from 6 overs with 2 maidens.

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