Pakistan left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir said the memory of his late mother will serve as an inspiration during the World Cup clash against India in Manchester on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Amir is back in form after picking up 5-30 against Australia on Wednesday following an extended poor run that saw him take just five wickets in 14 ODIs leading up to the World Cup.

Amir’s mother Naseem Akhtar passed away in March this year and the pacer said she wanted him to take five wickets in every match.

“My mother will definitely be praying for me from the heavens,” Amir was quoted as saying by AFP.

“She would always be found before the television, praying for my success and her biggest wish was that I get five wickets, so when I got five I cried and remembered her words.”

Pakistan have lost all six of their previous World Cup matches against India but Amir is looking to draw inspiration from their 2017 Champions Trophy final meeting in England when Amir inspired a 180-run victory.

“That was a high-pressure game so I learnt from that final. As a strike bowler everyone wanted me to take wickets and on that day I learned how to handle that pressure,” said Amir.