Mohammad Amir Archives

Two Pakistan players named in Quinton de Kock’s all-time left-handers’ XI

Former South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has named two players from Pakistan in his all-time left-handers’ XI.

De Kock slotted himself at the top of the order alongside Australia’s explosive opener Matthew Hayden.

The top four features a heavy Sri Lankan presence with Sanath Jayasuriya at No. 3 and Kumar Sangakkara at No. 4.

The middle order includes “Mr. Cricket” Michael Hussey and India’s Ravindra Jadeja, before Pakistan’s legendary all-rounder Wasim Akram takes up the No. 7 role.

In the bowling attack, Quinton de Kock opted for a mix of pace and spin.

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Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath is the only specialist spinner, complemented by a formidable trio of left-arm quicks: Mitchell Johnson (Australia), Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka), and Mohammad Amir (Pakistan).

Akram’s inclusion comes as no surprise as the “Sultan of Swing” remains the second-highest wicket-taker in ODI history with 502 wickets in 356 matches, alongside 414 scalps in Test cricket.

Meanwhile, Amir’s selection is more recent in flavour. The left-armer picked 119 wickets in 36 Tests, 81 in ODIs, and 71 in T20Is for Pakistan.

He briefly returned for the 2024 T20 World Cup after his first retirement in 2020, but after taking just seven wickets in four matches, he announced a second retirement after the mega-event.

Quinton de Kock’s All-Time Left-Handers’ XI

Matthew Hayden, Quinton de Kock (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Hussey, Ravindra Jadeja, Wasim Akram, Rangana Herath, Mohammad Amir, Chaminda Vaas, Mitchell Johnson.

READ: “I didn’t realise he was 37”: Australia captain comments on Pujara’s retirement

Mohammad Amir reaches 400 T20 wickets milestone in CPL 2025

ANTIGUA: Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has achieved a 400-wicket milestone during the seventh fixture of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025.

The left-arm pacer, who is representing Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the tournament, dismissed Fabian Allen to reach the 400 T20 wickets milestone against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, on Wednesday.

With this feat, Amir etched his name into Pakistan’s history books by becoming the second pacer to achieve this feat.

Mohammad Amir reached the milestone in his 343rd match, and with his achievement, he now sits in ninth place on the all-time wicket takers list in the shorter format of the game.

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Wahab Riaz is currently leading the wickets chart for Pakistan in T20,with 413 wickets to his name in 348 matches.

Leading Wicket Takers in T20 cricket for Pakistan

Wahab Riaz 348 matches 413 wickets

Mohammad Amir 343 matches 400 wickets*

Sohail Tanvir 388 matches 389 wickets

Imad Wasim 405 matches 375 wickets

Shahid Afridi 329 matches 347 wickets

The 33-year-old pacer returned with the figures four for 31 in his quota of four overs as his team ended on the losing side.

Put into bat first in the seventh fixture of CPL 2025, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons scored 167-6 in their allocated 20 overs.

Skipper Imad Wasim and Fabian Allen were the notable contributors as the former made an unbeaten 39 from 27, whereas the latter quick-fire 45-run knock from just 20 balls ensured that their team reached a winning total.

In reply, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons fell eight runs short of the target despite veteran Kieron Pollard’s blitz.

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons could only manage to score 159-6 in their 20 overs with Pollard demonstrating a vintage display, smashing four sixes and three fours in his knock of 43 from 28 deliveries.

READ: Pakistan announce Junior Padel squad for World Cup in Spain

Amir, Imad and Naseem among seven players granted NOCs for franchise leagues

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has granted no-objection certificates (NOCs) to Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, and Naseem Shah to feature in the various franchise leagues.

The board announced the NOCs in a press release, confirming the issuance of NOCs to seven players for participation in franchise leagues around the globe.

The duo of Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, who retired last December, have been issued NOCs to participate in The Hundred competition, currently underway in England.

Both players will represent Northern Superchargers in the ongoing season.

Amir and Imad, who are the first players from Pakistan this year to participate in The Hundred. They will replace Australian pacer Ben Dwarshius and New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner, both of whom are injured.

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Besides the duo, pacer Naseem Shah and Iftikhar Ahmed were also issued the NOCs to feature in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Additionally, Faheem Ashraf and Khusdil Shah have also been granted NOCs to feature in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025.

Sharjeel Khan, the southpaw who last played for Pakistan at the international level in 2021, received an NOC to take part in the Top End T20 Series in Australia.

List of players granted NOCs

Imad Wasim – The Hundred (7 Aug 2025-10 Aug 2025)

Mohammad Amir – The Hundred (7 Aug 2025-10 Aug 2025)

Sharjeel Khan – Top End T20 Series in Australia 2025 (15 Aug 2025-25 Aug 2025)

Mohammad Amir – CPL 2025 (15 Aug 2025-22 Sep 2025)

Naseem Shah – CPL 2025 (15 Aug 2025-22 Sep 2025)

Iftikhar Ahmed – CPL 2025 (14 Aug 2025-21 Sep 2025)

Khushdil Shah – BPL (1 Dec 2025-15 Jan 2026)

Faheem Ashraf – BPL (1 Dec 2025-15 Jan 2026)

READ: Babar Azam eyes major milestone during West Indies ODIs

Pakistan’s star players join Northern Superchargers for The Hundred 2025

LONDON: Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim have officially signed with the Northern Superchargers for the 2025 edition of The Hundred, becoming the first Pakistani players to secure deals for this year’s competition.

The experienced duo have been roped in as replacements for the Superchargers.

Amir comes in for Australian pacer Ben Dwarshuis, who has been ruled out of the entire season due to international commitments, while Imad will fill in for New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner, who is set to miss the first two matches.

Their signings come after months of uncertainty surrounding the participation of Pakistani players in The Hundred, especially under the league’s new ownership structure.

The Northern Superchargers, it is worth noting, will come under the operational control of India’s Sun Group starting October 1.

No Pakistani cricketer was picked during the players’ draft in March, sparking speculation that the growing influence of Indian stakeholders, who now hold ownership in six of the eight teams, might have played a role in their exclusion.

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However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) categorically denied any political or ownership-driven bias, maintaining that Pakistani players remained eligible for selection.

Cricket analysts attributed their absence more to scheduling conflicts than politics.

Pakistan’s white-ball tour of the West Indies, followed by a tri-series in the UAE, limited player availability during the draft window.

Additionally, the team’s recent T20I struggles and last year’s late pull-outs by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah reportedly affected their chances.

With Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim now in the mix, the Superchargers’ squad gets a significant boost.

READ: Rohail Nazir’s century, bowlers put Pakistan Shaheens in command on day two

Mohammad Amir signed by Knight Riders for CPL 2025

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) has signed former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir for the 12th edition of the league, set to commence on August 14.

The franchise that won its title four years ago acquired the services of Mohammad Amir in the draft held on June 18.

TKR is one of the most popular franchises in the CPL, boasting a star-studded squad which features the likes of Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein and Alex Hales.

Along with Amir, the team has also brought in Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq in a bid to bolster the spin attack.

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The TKR squad also boasts experienced players such as Dwayne Bravo, Yannic Cariah, and Joshua Da Silva.

Mohammad Amir has been regular in CPL since the 2021 season. The left-arm pacer has represented three different franchises, Barbados Royals, Jamaica Tallawahs and Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, scalping 51 wickets in 39 matches.

Mohammad Amir, who retired from international cricket last year, has continued to feature in T20 leagues worldwide. Apart from his league experience, the Pakistan star has played 331 T20 matches, taking 381 wickets.

The opening match of the tournament will be played between St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Antigua & Barbuda Falcons.

The CPL group stage fixture will run until 6 September, before the semi-finals take place at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.

Matches will also be held in Saint Lucia, Trinidad, Barbados, in addition to St Kitts and Guyana.

Last year, the St Lucia Kings clinched their maiden title under the leadership of former Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis, as they defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final.

Pakistan players to feature in CPL 2025

Mohammad Nawaz (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots), Imad Wasim (Antigua and Barbuda Falcons), Mohammad Amir and Usman Tariq (Trinbago Knight Riders), Hassan Khan (Guyana Amazon Warriors)

READ: National cricketers undergo intense training at PCB’s skills development camp

Mohammad Amir joins Essex for T20 Blast

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has joined the Essex squad for the Vitality Blast T20, set to commence today.

The arrival of the veteran pacer was announced via Essex’s social media handle in a video.

“Great to be back here. I am really happy and I am looking forward to seeing you all. I need your support,” Mohammad Amir said in the video shared on X.

The left-arm pacer first joined the club in 2017 and played in three seasons for the side.

The left-arm pacer has represented Essex in 21 games, scalping 24 wickets. Amir’s best season came in 2019, when he bagged 10 wickets at an impressive average of 20.10.

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In that year, Essex achieved the double by winning the Vitality Blast final after securing the county title.

It is worth mentioning that Mohammad Amir announced his retirement from international cricket last year. He has claimed 71 wickets at 21.64 in 62 T20Is for Pakistan. He was also a pivotal part of Pakistan’s 2009 ICC T20 World Cup-winning campaign.

The 33-year-old recently represented Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, claiming 13 wickets in nine matches. However, his team ended on the losing side in the nerve-wrecking PSL 10 final.

Lahore Qalandars lifted the PSL trophy for the third time after defeating Quetta Gladiators by six wickets.

Set to chase 202 for victory, Sikandar Raza and Kusal Perera staged an unbroken 59-run partnership to complete the highest chase in a PSL final.

Mohammad Amir had a dismal outing with the ball as he conceded 41 runs in his four overs while only managing to take a single wicket.

READ: Virat Kohli enters bowling arena with league investment

Fawad Alam calls Mohammad Amir one of the smartest bowlers in Pakistan

Former Pakistan batter Fawad Alam has praised Quetta Gladiators’ pacer Mohammad Amir for his skill and cricketing intelligence, placing him among the best pacers Pakistan has produced after the early 2000s era.

Speaking on a private TV show after the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 clash between the Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi, Fawad was asked if Amir is better than Pakistan’s current crop of fast bowlers. He didn’t hesitate to put Amir in a different league.

“As far as Amir’s ability is concerned, there’s no comparison. He is one of the best and the smartest bowlers we have had [in a long time],” Fawad said.

Fawad drew parallels between Amir and some of Pakistan’s finest pacers of the past two decades.

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“After Mohammad Asif — I mean after the early 2000s when we had big names — the two premier pacers we had were Asif and then Mohammad Amir,” he explained.

According to Fawad Alam, while many bowlers have skill, Amir’s intelligence sets him apart.

“I believe after Amir, we did not get many smarter bowlers. Skill is something every player who represents Pakistan has. But intelligence — that’s rare,” he said.

Highlighting Amir’s sharp cricketing mind, Fawad pointed towards his ability to read batters, especially someone of Babar Azam’s calibre.

“Mohammad Amir knew exactly how to get Babar Azam out, and you can clearly see the pressure Babar feels when facing him,” he remarked.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

He elaborated on the mutual respect between top-level players.

“When a batter knows he’s up against a smart bowler, he’s aware that the bowler understands his weaknesses. And Amir makes full use of a batter’s shortcomings,” Fawad Alam added.

He concluded by reiterating his admiration for Amir’s bowling smarts. “The more you talk about Amir’s skill and intelligence, the less it feels like enough,” he said.

It’s worth noting that Mohammad Amir has dismissed Babar Azam twice in the tournament so far — first for a golden duck and then for just 12 runs in their latest encounter on Sunday night.

READ: Former New Zealand captain comments on strike rate criticism of Babar, Rizwan

Mohammad Amir breaks silence on his retirement from international cricket

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has opened up on his retirement from international cricket, expressing that he felt sidelined and overlooked after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024.

In an exclusive interview with a Private news channel, Amir shed light on various aspects of the game. The 33-year-old pacer expressed his disappointment over the way he was treated after the World Cup.

“After the T20 World Cup ended, no one even talked to me. No one told me if I was part of the future plans, ” he said.

“A wise person understands the signs — if you’re not in the plans, then you have to think about yourself. That’s exactly what I did. I’ve made up my mind now — thank you very much, international cricket,” Amir further remarked.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

Amir reflected on sacrificing his county contract to play in the T20 World Cup, emphasizing the expenses he incurred during the mega event.

“I came to play the World Cup after leaving my county deal. Honestly, I ended up spending more money than I made. I travelled with my trainer, and all those expenses came out of my own pocket. But that’s a different matter,” he revealed.

Mohammad Amir heaped praise on Babar Azam, admitting his rough patch and expressed confidence in his comeback. He further highlighted a technical flaw in the ace batter’s batting.

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“Babar is the best cricketer Pakistan has right now — there’s no doubt about it. But he’s going through a rough patch, and it’s lasted a bit too long. I’ve noticed he’s been late on the ball lately, which is affecting his shot selection,” Amir observed.

The left-arm pacer emphasized an aggressive mindset on the field, noting that there are no friendships or seniors on the ground.

“If someone hits a shot off my first ball, I’m not going to go hug him—I’ll obviously say something to him to throw him off focus,” Amir said.

“In the past, cricket used to be fierce. Sir Vivian Richards is with us—ask him about it. Back then, it felt like someone might actually hit you with the bat on the field. Playing aggressively used to be part of the beauty of the game. You had to mentally unsettle the batter to break their concentration,” 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.

Subsequently, their presence did not help, as Pakistan crashed out of the tournament from the group stage, mainly due to their gut-wrenching defeats against the United States of America (USA) and their arch-rivals, India.

The pacer had once again announced his retirement from international cricket in December 2024, shattering the hopes of fans who had been awaiting his comeback.

READ: Ravi Bopara Credits Team Balance After Karachi Kings’ win over Peshawar Zalmi

Mohammad Amir hints at favoring IPL over PSL in future

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has expressed a preference for the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Amir, who is set to represent Quetta Gladiators in PSL 10, was asked during a recent podcast which league he would choose if both took place simultaneously.

The pacer candidly replied that he would opt for the IPL if given the opportunity.

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“Honestly, if I get the chance, I will definitely play in the IPL. I’m saying this openly. But if I don’t get a chance, then I will play in the PSL,” Amir revealed.

Mohammad Amir had previously expressed a similar sentiment in an earlier interview, where he mentioned his desire to play in the IPL once he obtains his UK passport.

“By next year, I will have the opportunity to play in the IPL. If given the chance, why not? I will play in the IPL,” he further remarked.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

It is important to note that Pakistani players have not participated in the Indian Premier League since 2008 due to political tensions between India and Pakistan.

Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not issued any formal directive regarding the participation of Pakistani players, IPL franchises have generally chosen not to bid for them.

The former pacer expressed his desire to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) if selected.

It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 kicked off today with the match between defending champions Islamabad United and two-time champions Lahore Qalandars.

READ: Lahore Qalandars set Islamabad United 140 to win in PSL 10 opener

Mohammad Amir suggests THIS player to be Pakistan T20I captain

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has thrown his weight behind a young and dynamic option for Pakistan’s T20I captaincy, suggesting that wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris should be considered for the leadership role.

In an interview with a private TV channel, Amir argued that Haris has already accumulated valuable captaincy experience at the domestic level, having led sides in List A competitions, the Champions Cup, Pakistan A, and Pakistan Shaheens.

The left-arm pacer also shared his thoughts on the newly appointed T20I captain, Agha Salman, who will lead Pakistan in the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand.

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While acknowledging Salman’s abilities, Amir suggested that his skillset is better suited for longer formats rather than T20 cricket.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shahzad, who was also part of the show, offered a different perspective, backing young left-hander Saim Ayub as a more suitable choice for the role.

Amir is not the first one to back Mohammad Haris, as recently, former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop has heaped high praise on the young wicket-keeper batter.

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The young batter’s name came into the discussion after Pakistan, who entered the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as defending champions, crashed out of the eight-team event in the group stage.

“There’s a young man called Mohammad Haris around Pakistan here, who I think…he’s inconsistent, but he’s exactly what white-ball cricket needs,” said Bishop.

Its worth noting that Haris has been named in Pakistan’s T20I squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand.

Pakistan T20I squad for New Zealand tour

Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk)

READ: Babar Azam’s father slams former cricketers after son’s exclusion from T20I squad