Mohammad Amir has finally reacted to Indian batsman Rohit Sharma's comment from last year that the Pakistani pacer is just a "normal" bowler.
Rohit, after Amir's dazzling spell in the 2016 Asia Cup T20 match between India and Pakistan in Dhaka, had infamously downplayed Amir's skills saying he wasn't too impressed with the hype surrounding the fast bowler.
"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," Rohit had said at the time.
"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."
"Stop talking about him already. He isn't the only bowler, Pakistan have five other bowlers who are doing well for them," the opener had remarked.
Amir, who bowled out Rohit for a duck with a beautiful delivery in the Champions Trophy 2017 finale, broke his silence over the batsman’s comments in a recent interview to Sky Sports.
"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," Amir said.
"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," the pacer continued.
"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," the 25-year-old added.
Amir's whirlwind spell, which got rid of Rohit in the opening over of India’s innings and sent skipper Virat Kohli and opener Shikhar Dhawan back to the pavilion, paved the way for Pakistan's historic 180-run win over India.