Amir signs county deal with Essex

Pakistani tearaway Mohammad Amir will play for English county Essex in 2017.

Amir will arrive at Essex after playing for Pakistan at the Champions Trophy, which is being staged in England in June.

The 24-year-old will be available for Essex games in the County Championship and Twenty20 competition.

Essex head coach Chris Silverwood says Amir "showed a real desire to be a part of the club".

Amir completed a five-year ban from international cricket in 2015 and served three months of a six-month prison sentence in England for taking bribes to bowl no-balls at specified moments in a Test match against England at Lord's in 2010.

The left-armer returned to Test cricket against England in August as Pakistan drew the series 2-2, playing his comeback match at the home of cricket.

Pakistan are set to tour Australia in December-January for a three-Test series, beginning in Brisbane on December 15 with the day-night pink-ball match, before heading to New Zealand.

Amir, once labelled "the hottest property in international cricket" by legendary Pakistan paceman Imran Khan, toured Australia in 2010 as a teenager in his then-burgeoning Test career, claiming a five-wicket haul in the MCG Boxing Day Test.

The paceman said last week he was excited at the prospect of a return.

"Five years (out of the game) is a long period, so I am gaining my rhythm and I am looking forward to trips to New Zealand and Australia," he said.

"I have been to both countries earlier and pitches there help fast bowlers.

"With the exposure of playing at tracks like in the United Arab Emirates you definitely get a lot of confidence to do well in Australia and New Zealand."

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Speaking with cricket.com.au's The Unplayable Podcast in August, injured Test quick Peter Siddle said he expected Amir – and pace partner Wahab Riaz – to enjoy the bouncy conditions Australia presents.

"They've actually got some fast bowlers that will be able to make it work on the wickets out here, and put us under a bit of pressure, so that's a big challenge for us," Siddle said.

"They've got explosive players who can take the game away from you, and they've got a good assortment of quicks at the moment.

"I think their squad will be suited to Australian conditions, probably more so than in the past."

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