Mohammad Amir Archives

Mohammad Amir labels Abhishek Sharma “just a slogger”

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has delivered a blunt assessment of India’s explosive opener Abhishek Sharma ahead of the much-anticipated clash between the arch-rivals in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday.

Speaking during a local TV show, Amir offered an unfiltered critique of the left-hander’s batting approach, questioning both his technique and consistency at the highest level.

“From what I’ve seen, if I’m being completely honest, he looks like a slogger to me,” Amir said. “He tries to hit every ball. If it connects, it connects, but most of the time the chances of failure are higher.”

The former left-arm pacer pointed to the high-risk nature of Sharma’s game, highlighting fluctuating returns with the bat.

“You must have noticed that he might play eight innings and score in only one of them, while in the others he gets 10, 15, 0, 20,” he said.

“The way he swings the bat, there doesn’t seem to be much technique; it’s more like, ‘Just give me the ball, and I’ll swing.’ Technically, I haven’t found him very sound.”

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Mohammad Amir, however, acknowledged the danger Sharma poses on his day.

“When it comes off, it really comes off, and he can hurt any team,” he said, while noting that the batter still appears vulnerable against quality variations, particularly slower deliveries and subtle swing.

He added that he would consider Sharma a complete batter only when he consistently handles movement and demonstrates stronger technical control.

Despite the criticism, Sharma’s numbers in T20 internationals remain impressive.

The explosive opener has scored 1,297 runs in 39 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 194.95, including two centuries and eight half-centuries.

Against Pakistan, he has accumulated 110 runs in three games at a strike rate close to 190, registering one fifty.

However, his impact in the ongoing tournament has been limited. Sharma was dismissed for a first-ball duck against the USA and missed the Namibia fixture due to illness, leaving his availability for the Pakistan encounter uncertain.

READ: Will Abhishek Sharma be available for India-Pakistan clash?

PSL 11 auction: Base prices of Haris Rauf, Amir, Rizwan revealed

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the base prices of players registered for the highly anticipated Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 player auction.

The landmark auction is scheduled to take place on February 11, with a total of 879 local and overseas cricketers from across the cricketing world signing up.

The pool includes players from Afghanistan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England and Sri Lanka, with base prices ranging from PKR 60 lakh to PKR 4.2 crore.

Several high-profile international stars have entered the top base price bracket of PKR 4.2 crore.

The list features Afghanistan’s Fazal Haq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Australia’s David Warner, and New Zealand all-rounders Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell.

South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw, England’s James Vince and Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka have also placed themselves in the highest category.

Among Pakistan players, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman and Faheem Ashraf headline the top-tier bracket, underlining the strong local presence in the auction.

The second-highest base price category begins at PKR 2.2 crore and includes notable names such as Australia’s Usman Khawaja and Peter Siddle, New Zealand’s Colin Munro, England’s Jason Roy and South Africa veteran Imran Tahir.

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Pakistan representatives in this category include Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood.

You can find the complete list of players along with their base prices by clicking here.

Under the new auction model, each franchise has been allocated a purse of PKR 450 million to build their squads, along with an additional PKR 55 million reserved for direct signings.

All franchises, including the newly-added Hyderabad and Sialkot Stallionz, have already confirmed their retentions and direct signings ahead of the auction.

However, Peshawar Zalmi were dealt a setback after their direct signing Rahmanullah Gurbaz withdrew from the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, Multan Sultans remain in a unique position heading into the auction. The franchise, currently without an owner, will enter the bidding process with a full purse after retaining no players and making no direct signings.

Notably, the Multan franchise is scheduled to be sold through a separate auction in Lahore on February 9, just two days before the PSL 11 player auction.

READ: ICC delegation to meet Mohsin Naqvi to break India-Pakistan deadlock: sources

Abu Dhabi T10: Quetta Qavalry seal playoff berth with super-over victory

ABU DHABI: Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Waseem starred in Quetta Qavalry victory over Vista Riders in a thrilling over in the 23rd match of the Abu Dhabi T10 here on Thursday.

With six victories out of six games unbeaten, Qavalary have sealed the Playoffs berth and are in the top position in the points table.

Set 105, Riders ended their innings in a tie, courtesy of Ben McDermott’s 44 from 27, laced with two sixes and four boundaries.

With this, the match entered a super over, with Qavalary’s skipper Mohammad Amir deciding to bowl the over.

The seasoned pacer conceded 12 runs against the likes of Faf du Plessis and McDermott, who only managed to score nine and three.

In reply, Qavalary aced the target on the second last ball despite losing in-form Khawaja Nafay for a golden duck on the second ball of the super over.

Waseem, who bagged the player of the match award, started with a boundary before Liam Livingstone took a double and hit a six to finish it in style.

Earlier, Quetta Qavalry made 104-4 in their allotted 10 overs, thanks to Muhammad Waseem’s 41* from only 14, featuring three sixes and the same number of fours.

For Riders, Dwaine Pretorius, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Andrew Tye, and Matthew Forde took one wicket apiece.

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Meanwhile, Royal Champs and Aspin Stallions also secured wins in the 24th and 25th fixtures of the tournament, respectively.

Champs defeated Northern Warriors by seven wickets, with Daniel Sams starring with the ball.

The left-arm seamer picked up three wickets, which restricted Northern Warriors to a mere 80-run total.

In reply, Royal Champs hit the winning runs on the fourth ball of the eighth over as Aaron Jones top-scored with 20* off 11, striking a boundary and a six.

For the Warriors, Shahnawaz Dahani, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Shahid Bhutta picked up one wicket each.

In the opening fixture of the day, Aspin Stallions chased down a stiff 120-run target against UAE Bulls, losing four wickets in the process.

Ben Cutting starred with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 39* from 18, studded with four sixes and three fours.

Karim Janat, who earned the player of the match award, bowled an impressive spell and picked up two wickets.

For UAE Bulls, Phil Salt remained the top-scorer with 44 off 17, which powered them to 119-5 at the end of their 10 overs.

The tournament’s Playoffs will be played on Saturday, 29 November.

READ: Agha rues powerplay wickets after loss to Sri Lanka

Mohammad Amir backs Khawaja Nafay for Pakistan call-up

Quetta Qavalry skipper Mohammad Amir has thrown his weight behind emerging batter Khawaja Nafay, tipping the youngster for a call-up to Pakistan’s senior team in the near future.

Unbeaten in their debut Abu Dhabi T10 League campaign, Quetta Qavalry have enjoyed a dream start، and Nafay has been at the heart of it with his consistency and clean ball-striking.

The young wicketkeeper-batter has amassed 144 runs in four innings without being dismissed, hammering 12 sixes and showcasing maturity beyond his years.

After Qavalry’s latest victory, Mohammad Amir praised Nafay’s attitude and temperament, qualities he believes will take the right-hander a long way.

“He is extremely hardworking, and that is his biggest strength,” Amir said. “If he keeps his focus, he can soon become a key contributor to Pakistan cricket.”

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Reflecting on his side’s unbeaten run, the left-arm pacer acknowledged that while early momentum is encouraging, the true challenge lies in sustaining it.

“When you keep winning early, the challenges get tougher as the tournament progresses,” he noted. “I just hope we can maintain this momentum.”

Nafay’s impressive form predates the T10 League. The right-hander has already made his mark in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with Quetta Gladiators, scoring 234 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 130, including two half-centuries.

He was also one of the standout performers for Pakistan Shaheens in the recently concluded Hong Kong Sixes 2025, finishing as the tournament’s third-highest run-scorer.

Khawaja Nafay piled up 151 runs in five matches at an extraordinary strike rate of 284.90, highlighted by a crucial fifty in the knockout rounds as Pakistan lifted the title after defeating Kuwait in the final.

READ: Pakistan-Sri Lanka eye T20I series ahead of 2026 World Cup: reports

Abu Dhabi T10: Mohammad Amir stars in Quetta Qavalry’s win over UAE Bulls

ABU DHABI: Skipper Mohammad Amir returned to the Quetta Qavalary side in style with a four-wicket haul, powering his team to a nine-wicket over UAE Bulls in the 14th fixture of the Abu Dhabi T10 League here on Saturday.

Quetta Qavalry chased down the 110-run target in 8.2 overs, losing just one wicket in the process.

After losing Andries Gous in the second over for eight, Evin Lewis and Muhammad Waseem steadied the chase with brisk knocks.

Both batters demonstrated their range of hitting with eye-catching sixes. Lewis hit three sixes and three fours on his way to 48* from 24 balls. Waseem, on the other hand, hit 50* off 19, laced with six fours and three maximums.

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For Bulls, impact player Salman Irshad picked up the solitary wicket.

Earlier, Mohammad Amir wreaked havoc with the ball to bundle out UAE Bulls for 109 in 10 overs.

Tim David played a gutsy knock off 31* off 11 deliveries, studded with four boundaries and two sixes. Phil Salt made 31 from 15 with the aid of two sixes and two fours.

After losing Tom Moores for a duck, Phil Salt and Rovman Powell stitched a 47-run stand before the wickets were bundled out in their innings.

For Quetta Qavalary, Mohammad Amir picked up four wickets while Khuzaima Tanveer scalped two apiece.

Earlier, Northern Warriors registered a six-wicket win against Deccan Gladiators in the 13th fixture of the tournament. Meanwhile, Vista Riders also sealed a six-run victory over Aspin Stallions in the 12th match.

READ: Farhan’s blazing knock seals comprehensive win for Pakistan

Will Mohammad Amir lead Quetta Qavalry in Abu Dhabi T10 opener?

Quetta Qavalry confirmed that their star pacer and captain, Mohammad Amir, will miss the team’s opening match of the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2025 against Northern Warriors on Tuesday due to unforeseen visa-related delays.

In an official statement, the franchise reassured fans that all formalities are underway and Amir will join the squad as soon as his visa is processed.

“Due to an unexpected delay in the visa processing, Mohammad Amir will not be available for today’s first game,” the statement read.

“All formalities are currently in progress, and he will join the squad and take charge as soon as his visa arrives. We appreciate your patience and continued support for the Qavalry.”

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Amir’s absence was felt during the captains’ conference and the trophy unveiling ceremony, where England all-rounder Liam Livingstone stepped in as Qavalry’s representative.

The Qavalry squad for their maiden Abu Dhabi T10 League features a mix of experienced internationals and local talent, including Liam Livingstone, Jason Holder, Azam Khan, Imran Tahir, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, and Muhammad Waseem, among others.

Quetta Qavalry squad for Abu Dhabi T10 League:

Liam Livingstone, Mohammad Amir, Jason Holder, Azam Khan (wk), Andries Gous, Muhammad Waseem, Imran Tahir, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Gudakesh Motie, Ali Naseer, Khuzaima Bin Tanvir, Abdul Ghaffar, Abbas Afridi, Irfan Khan Niazi, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Arafat Minhas, Umer Zeeshan Lohya and George Scrimshaw.

READ: Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali resigns from PCB roles: sources

Mohammad Amir named Quetta Qavalry captain for Abu Dhabi T10 league

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir will lead Quetta Qavalry in their inaugural season of the Abu Dhabi T10 League, starting November 18.

The announcement came via Qavalry social media handle with an animated poster.

“The leader of the Qavalry. The charge starts now.,” the caption wrote.

For the unversed, Quetta Qavalry will commence their campaign in an opening encounter against Northern Warriors. They will then play against the Ajman Titans on November 19 and take on the Deccan Gladiators on November 21.

Their fourth fixture will be against Delhi Bulls on November 22, whereas their second-to-last and final fixtures will be against Vista Riders and Royal Champs on November 27 and 28, respectively.

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A few days earlier, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan joined Quetta Qavalry as a replacement for Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza ahead of the ninth edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 League, set to take place from November 18 to 30.

The franchise announced the update via social media, confirming that Raza would be unavailable due to national commitments and welcoming Azam as his replacement.

Raza’s withdrawal comes as he is currently leading Zimbabwe in their T20I series against Afghanistan.

For Azam Khan, this marks another stint with a Quetta-based franchise, having previously represented the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) from 2018 to 2021.

The hard-hitting batter has played 61 PSL matches, scoring 1,206 runs at a strike rate of 143.40, including six half-centuries.

The team will be coached by Yasir Arafat, with Javeria Khan serving as team director.

Quetta Qavalry squad for Abu Dhabi T10 League:

READ: ICC announces match officials for Women’s World Cup final

Mohammad Amir reacts to Shaheen Afridi’s appointment as captain

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has slammed the decision to appoint Shaheen Afridi as the One Day International (ODI) captain of national cricket team.

Shaheen replaced wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan as captain of national ODI team.

The left-arm pacer’s first assignment will be the forthcoming three-match series against South Africa, which will begin on November 4 at Faisalabad Cricket Stadium.

The decision to appoint Shaheen as captain was taken at a meeting held in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by head coach Mike Hesson, director of high performance Aqib Javed and members of the selection committee.

Following the decision, Amir believed this is not a good decision under the circumstances.

“I don’t think Mohammad Rizwan has been treated fairly. Rizwan was not a bad one-day captain,” he remarked via a video on his social media handle.

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He led Pakistan to series wins in South Africa and Australia — something even some of our biggest captains couldn’t achieve. We should not have forgotten that,” Amir continued.

The 33-year-old stressed long-term planning and rued himself alongside former cricketers for destablization in Pakistan cricket while lavishing praise on Rizwan’s captaincy.

“Captaincy should not depend on just one good or bad series. We are all responsible for this — former cricketers and analysts included. We don’t allow stability in our cricket,” he added.

“Captains are not made overnight; it takes two to three years to build one. But here, one bad series is enough to replace a captain. I don’t think this is the right call. Rizwan is a smart captain and he has that knack of captaincy.”

He suggested that if Shaheen was to be handed the reins of the national team, he should have first been made vice-captain.

“If Shaheen had to be made captain, he could have first been appointed as vice-captain, and his performance judged accordingly — especially considering his fitness,” he concluded.

READ: Shaheen Afridi replaces Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s ODI captain

Amir set to spearhead Quetta Qavalry attack in Abu Dhabi T10 League

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has joined the newly-formed franchise Quetta Qavalry for their debut campaign in the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 League, slated to begin on November 18.

The franchise confirmed Amir’s signing through its official social media handles on Wednesday, unveiling the experienced left-armer with a bold statement.

“You asked for it. You waited for it. Now he’s here — Ladies and Gentlemen, Mohammad Amir. The Desert Spear, The Global Legend of Quetta Qavalry,” the franchise posted.

Mohammad Amir, one of Pakistan’s most seasoned fast bowlers in franchise cricket, adds immense experience to the squad.

The 33-year-old has featured in major leagues across the world, including the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Men’s The Hundred, ILT20, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), and Lanka Premier League (LPL).

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Across his extensive T20 career, Amir has bagged 458 wickets in 348 matches at an economy rate of 7.15, while representing Pakistan in 62 T20Is and taking 65 wickets on the international stage.

The Qavalry setup has been assembling a strong and diverse lineup ahead of their debut season.

Earlier this week, they announced Jason Holder and Liam Livingstone, while Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, USA’s Andries Gous, South Africa’s Imran Tahir, and UAE’s Muhammad Waseem have also joined the squad.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat has been appointed as head coach, bringing both local insight and international experience to the dressing room.

The franchise, owned by Nadeem Omar, who also owns Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League, was officially launched on October 10.

Quetta Qavalry will compete in the ninth edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 League, running from November 18 to 30.

READ: Mohammad Hafeez calls on PCB to focus more on red-ball cricket

Mohammad Amir opens up on comeback plans

Left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has dismissed talk of an international comeback, stating that it’s time for Pakistan cricket to move forward.

The 33-year-old explained that he has no intentions of making a comeback and his decision is final.

“For the past two or three days, I have been hearing that Mohammad Amir is making a comeback and taking back his retirement. No discussion has taken place with me about any comeback or withdrawing retirement, nor do I have any such plan. The decision I made regarding retirement is final,” Amir remarked

“My fans say that I should come back, but Pakistan cricket also needs to move forward,” he continued.

He also backed the Pakistan team for T20 World Cup glory after ending as runners-up in the Asia Cup 2025.

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“There are young players in the team. If the youngsters play consistently, in two or three years a strong team will be formed. I hope the team will be well-prepared for the World Cup. We played the Asia Cup final; now I hope we play the World Cup final and win as well,” he stated.

Mohammad Amir lavished praise on wicket-keeper Sarafaraz Ahmed and talked about his potential role as a chief selector.

“Even if he is not appointed Chief Selector, if he comes in as a selector, it will be a good decision. Sarfaraz Ahmed has played with the current players, which could be an advantage,” he said.

“Sarfaraz Ahmed is an honest and sincere person; Pakistan cricket can benefit from people like him. Cricketers should also be capable of managing affairs and should be good players. Many cricketers came before, but they left the team in turmoil,” he concluded.

For the unversed, Mohammad Amir had previously announced his retirement from international cricket back in 2020 at the age of 28, citing differences with the then-team management.

However, he, along with Imad Wasim, came out of international retirement in 2024 and declared availability for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Ultimately, Amir decided to step away from international cricket again in 2019.

READ: Complete squads announced for all 10 teams in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy