Calcutta/ Auckland: Pakistan pacer Mohammad Aamir was on Friday booed on his return to international cricket by the crowd during the first Twenty20 match against New Zealand here.

The 23-year-old left-arm pacer was making his first appearance for Pakistan since returning from a five-year ban and jail time for being implicated in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010.

Pakistan defeated the hosts by 16 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with Mohammed Hafeez scoring 61 as they reached 171 for eight. Shahid Afridi's astute captaincy coupled with an all-round effort, helped Pakistan overcome New Zealand's challenge.

Aamir opened the bowling, taking 1-31 from four overs, but did not bat. Back home however, the Pakistan cricket fraternity was relieved to see Aamir make a comeback.

"The crowds and people in New Zealand are very hospitable and friendly and they understand cricket. I was not expecting them to react to Aamir's comeback today," wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal said.

Aamir was also welcomed by former teammates Salman Butt and Mohammed Asif who served five-year bans and varying jail time for involvement in the spot-fixing scandal that broke out in the aftermath of the Lord's Test in 2010.

"Whatever happened on that tour to England is now history but we have all learnt a lot from it. We learnt that one should never let your people, team and supporters down nor try to spoil an otherwise beautiful sport," Butt said.

Asif said it is never easy for any pace bowler to make a comeback to international cricket after such a long time.

"I thought Aamir handled the pressure well and bowled well despite the spotlight on him," Asif said.

Pakistan's former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said he was happy to see the young Aamir given a second chance. "In the end we must keep in mind these three have served their time and they are repentant and changed people now. Aamir's comeback to the team will only benefit Pakistan cricket," Akhtar said.

Former Test player Mohammad Yousuf said Aamir deserved a chance to wear the Pakistan shirt again. "I am hopeful he has learnt his lesson and will now try to win back the confidence of everyone. He did well today and I think in a couple of matches he will be back to his bowling prowess," the former captain said.

Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam said the victory over New Zealand lifted the spirits of the players. "The good thing is that Aamir is positive, confident and making everyone put in an effort to gel with the other players. He is doing well."

Aamir kept emotions in check through the early overs, like a man who knows he is still in the dock, though it is years since his conviction. There had been cheers in the crowd when his name was announced in the XI, a cricket-specific website reported.

Teammates might have been lukewarm but some Pakistan fans in the Auckland crowd embraced his return. They chanted his name in his first over. A few had brought "Welcome back" signs.

The first over was low-key, like his attitude. Having sent his first ball down the leg side, he bowled sharp inswing at the right-handers, veering a little too far down the leg side, perhaps, but regularly breaching 140kph. It wasn't quite Aamir at his best; just the kind of bowling that prompted coach Waqar Younis to later say that his return was neither great nor poor, but "pretty okay".

In his second over, Aamir got an abrupt refresher on what being a Pakistan fast bowler is all about. Having induced a mistake from one of the form batsmen in the world, Aamir watched Kane Williamson's mishit sail towards cover, where Afridi settled beautifully beneath it, before proceeding, of course, to drop the catch. Aamir kept his cool on that occasion, as teammates sent sympathetic applause in his direction.