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Mohammad Irfan is out of form. Since the World Cup he has averaged over 40 with the ball in 12 ODIs. Questions are being asked about whether he's good enough to lead the bowling unit; whether he was ever good enough to do so in the first place.

But those questions are usually raised by those who haven't watched him bowl in this period. On the lifeless pitches of the Asian summer he has repeatedly been Pakistan's outstanding bowler, perhaps even their only saving grace. His ability to do everything but bring the ball back in to the right-hander has been on show. Often forced to partner with mediocre medium pace, this lumbering giant has shown that he may be the smartest, most complete pacer in the country.

Or perhaps the second most.

Mohammad Amir is in form. He's taking wickets wherever he goes: 16 in four Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches has whetted the appetite (although considering the conditions, pitches and ball being used for that tournament, you do have to take it all with a bushel of salt - after all, four fast bowlers, including Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir, have better averages than Amir this season). And the BPL, in which too he features, has now become the temple for those whose religion is pondering the what-ifs of Pakistani cricket.

Pakistani bowling over the next year or so will be defined by these two men, the public perceptions of whom are based on things not in their control.

Amir lived by the phrase carpe diem. In just over a year he had more "moments" than most cricketers have in their lifetimes: the over to Tillakaratne Dilshan, the offcutter to Sachin Tendulkar, that summer in England. Irfan hasn't had anything like it - since his return against India, he has always played second fiddle: to Saeed Ajmal, to Junaid Khan, to Wahab Riaz. At the end of the World Cup his average was a fraction better than Wahab's, and his economy rate far better, yet six months later it's not Irfan for whom Homeric paeans are written.

Irfan's average of 23.25 and economy of 4.53 in the World Cup showed just how good he can be in helpful conditions. Since his return in ODIs he has averaged 22 and under (economy under 4.60) in each of Australia, England and South Africa, with his finest performance reserved for South Africa in New

Zealand. But barely a quarter of his matches have been played in these four countries - he has instead been forced to grind on slow and low wickets in the era of two new balls (and thus little reverse swing) and rules that are more batting-friendly than ever before. And since his debut series Pakistan have not played a Test outside Asia or Zimbabwe, meaning his work in whites has never been required.

In ODIs, Irfan has often been the violinist on the Titanic, playing a glorious tune without anyone noticing or caring, as Pakistan have lurched from one incompetent batting unit to another

In comparison, Amir had things different. Think of the mental image you have of him, and invariably, with the exception of the Tendulkar and Dilshan performances, it's of him in whites. Despite averaging over 40 in each of his first three Test series (in Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia) he got the fans salivating. The potential for greatness somehow appeals more than even greatness itself. The England series, in conditions tailor-built for him, made him a rock star.

Then there's the small matter of context. Irfan's Test debut came after Pakistan had lost just one series in two and a half years, Amir's came when Pakistan hadn't won one in two and a half years. Irfan was the final piece of the jigsaw, Amir the saviour.

The jigsaw fell apart and was then restructured without Irfan. In ODIs, he has often been the violinist on the Titanic, playing a glorious tune without anyone noticing or caring, as Pakistan have lurched from one incompetent batting unit to another. Amir was the iceberg, stopping the unstoppable, the shining light after the darkness of the Raos and the Samis. His run-up alone was sexier than anything his immediate predecessors ever did. If Wasim was Ursula Andress, Amir was Daniel Craig with water dripping off him. Irfan meanwhile seems like a Transformer in the process of breaking down as he runs up to the wicket, questioning the very basis of Pakistani fast bowling: can a fast bowler really call himself that if he doesn't have a spectacular run-up?

Both, though, are representative of Pakistan. We talk of the potential of Amir but Irfan has only played ten more first-class matches than him, yet it's only the former with whom the word "potential" is regularly used. Amir is a product of the PCB and the Pakistani cricket fraternity's work: through underage teams, to being coached by Wasim Akram as a 16-year-old, he was proof that the system worked. But it's the same system that hasn't been able to rid itself of the curse of fixing over the last two decades, of which Amir is again proof.

Amir: forever laden with potential © AFP

Thus, they are now symbols. Irfan proves that the cracks in the system are so big that a seven-footer who bowls at 140-plus kph can be ignored. Amir, to the puritans who wish to rid Pakistan of the curse of fixing, is the Antichrist. For them, unable to take to task the '90s lot, he has now become a lightning rod - an icon for redemption turned into one who provokes vengefulness.

His return in Rawalpindi during the domestic T20s a couple of months ago was instructional too. Among the loudest roars from the crowds were reserved for Amir, the home-town boy. Even as one stand chanted "fixer, fixer", it was drowned out. This, after all, is a country that will always forgive your sins if you bowl fast.

The question now is whether they'll play together. Some suggest, including those within the dressing room, that Amir's comeback ought to be delayed, that he needs to be observed and followed to see if all that glitters truly is gold. Yet what does that achieve? If you are willing to delay his return, why have him return at all? For some, especially the fans, he has served his time and then some. For others, especially former and current players, he was never punished as much as he should have been. The phrase making the rounds now is: "Now everyone knows you can sell your country [sic] and be back after only five years."

Irfan and Amir are just canvases for Pakistanis to vomit their emotions on; neither, though, is the most complete pacer in the country. As the Twitterverse, TV shows and WhatsApp groups become shouting matches, in nets in the heart of Lahore, Mohammad Asif was busy breaking abdominal guards and making fools out of the best batsmen in the country. Asif, the habitual line-crosser, will ask with his mere presence: does the career and legacy of a player rely on his talent and performances or other factors? The contrasting perceptions of Irfan and Amir could provide him with the answer.

Hassan Cheema is a sports journalist, writer and commentator, and co-hosts the online cricket show Pace is Pace Yaar. @mediagag

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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GUJRATWALLA ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 7:04 GMT

@zs32 re.Umar Gul! Imran Khan who played in the recent Test series against England is a exact carbon copy of Umar Gul though he has yet to master the art of yorkers.

AHSAN AFZAL ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 20:29 GMT

Amir or Asif - both found guilty ; eventually punished; and they have gracefully completed it under ICC & PCB hawk eyes and complete satisfaction. If someone commits an offence and any subsequent punishment is awarded/completed ; we call him a free & clean man. Same is applicable to both Amir & Asif. what bigger punishement in world can be than to remain in allienation during 5 PRIME years of your carrier. People who are challenging their return are either insane or have no idea of JUSTICE. PCB shall immediately look ( if both are fit & performing) to make them part of upcoming Pakistan team matches and I am sure with a 5 man attack comprising Irfan, Asif, Amir, Wahab & Yasir Shah (with Shoib Malik as other spin option); Pakistan in next 4-5 years will be world's most deadliset and feared bowling attack - and add Saeed Ajmal back in business; Pakistan will be unstoppable.

ZS32 ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 17:15 GMT

Adding to my previous comment, I think most Pak fast bowlers are very talented cricketers and hence selectors are spoiled for choice. But the thing they are missing on is they don't have some experienced bowlers to pass on the wisdom as had been passed in the past from Sarfaraz to Imran, Imran to Wasim/Waqar and from them to Shoaib. You may be bowling 145 kph and moving the ball both ways, but you need somebody standing at mid-on to tell you which line/length to bowl when you are lost for ideas (imagine a really flat wicket, bowling to ABD, BMac etc). Pakistan has two such experienced

bowlers in Umar Gul and Asif and from what I have read online, some of the players aren't interested in playing with Asif. In this situation Umar Gul would be the better choice (even if he is half the bowler he used to be) and Junaid, Wahab, Amir, Irfan, Bhatti etc can rotate around him. Playing all attacking bowlers in the same match has backfired time and again for Aus who have picked Siddle instead.

HASSANASLAM ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 12:51 GMT

Pakistan could have one of the mightiest bowling attack in coming years with Muhammad Irfan tallest and with his unexpected bounce mixed with yorkers and cutters, "The Gentle Giant" is a lethal weapon for Pakistan backing him is another left armer sheer pace and perhaps one of the deadliest bowler to face when he is ticked. Whahab Raiz is known for his magic spells whenever wherever he may produce. A bomb dropped on World cricket i 2009 seeing the young sensation in face of Muhammad Aamir. He achieved so many things is such short amount of time from the wicket of little master Sachin to dismantlement the mighty Australia he become one of the most fierce and smarted bowler in world. Lastly Pakistan Leggy in the rich history of spinners like AH Qardar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Saeed Ajmal and Mushtaq Ahmed still Pakistan bowling attack was always known for their Pacers then Yasir Shah shown his mantle against top sides Like Australia, NewZealand,Srilanka and England. 4 in 1 team "Dream Team"

NYMPHOLEPT ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 10:16 GMT

I think the only thing that Irfan lacks is cleverness. These days bowlers need to be very cunning and deceitful to contain the batsmen and get them out.

MARIJ.IQBAL ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 7:56 GMT

Staying fit is the issue with many Pakistani fast bowlers for past few years.. Gul, Junaid etc. are all struggling to be 100% fit to represent Pakistan.. For me, Amir is still young and should be included in the squad as soon as possible for him to represent Pakistan for more than few years..

STALEY ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 7:33 GMT

If somebody still want to play skeptic about Amir's form, let him take a peek into his performance in recent BPL that is happening in Bangladesh. In dead pitches, he was superlative hard to get away. His dominance only reminds of Dale Steyn. Very few Pakistani Fast bowlers from recent past has been this much consistent and respectful that opposition always look for phases without him on the attack to score from. His runup is mighty sexy, with the new hair cut he only looks more lethal, accurate and vengeful than I ever seen any Pakistani bowlers be. If PCB dont take his BPl performance seriously enough and prefers to prolong his return, only Pakistan team will suffer, nobody else. I am also surprised if not astonished not to see the likes of Junaed Khan in recent past. Pakistan team seems too much dependent on Wahab, but I believe Wahab is still one-dimensional in his approach and ability (Bouncers & yorkers, not much swing or cutters). Irfan-Amir-Junaed should be the order of the day.

ZS32 ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 7:07 GMT

As another Indian fan, I might add to Pranab Sarkar's comment that Umar Gul was the next best bowler to come after Waqar, Wasim and Shoaib retired. I have always rated him higher than Junaid, Irfan, Amir and Asif. Although PK selectors who always go for flamboyance over consistency undermined him. Look at Australia, did they ever drop Hazlewood for Cummins? or Starc? Will Nz drop Southee to play Milne? Umar Gul was and is the Jimmy Anderson of Pakistan. I don't know how he is bowling today but if he is still as good as he used to be, he would be great as a stock bowler plus a mentor for more new youngsters to come.

GUJRATWALLA ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 6:55 GMT

Irfan is a tremendous bowler when he is fit but he is prone to injury too often, Aamir is still just a kid who will develop with time.If he pays attention to his fitness and avoid bad company he can continue where he left off.Our senior players need to support him but he himself have to step forward and apologise and harmonise with them.Of Junaid Khan i am totally lost for words! He had so much potential.Wonder what went wrong as we have not much information about him lately.Are we in for a transformation as with Wahab Riaz? If that happens Pakistan will have magnificent attack: Wahab, Irfan, Junaid and Aamir.