Mohammad Amir Archives

Another Pakistan cricketer announces retirement after Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim

Following the unexpected retirement of all-rounder Imad Wasim and pacer Mohammad Amir, left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has also chosen to step away from international cricket.

Irfan took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account and announced his decision while thanking his teammates and coaching staff for their support over the course of his career.

“I have decided to [take] retirement from international cricket,” he posted. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to my teammates, [and] coaches.”

“Thank you for the love, the cheers, and the unforgettable memories and I will continue to support and celebrate the game that has given me everything. Pakistan Zindabad!”

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The 7’1″ bowler made his international debut in an ODI against England in 2010. He went on to represent Pakistan in 4 Tests, 60 ODIs, and 22 T20Is, taking a total of 109 wickets across formats.

He was part of Pakistan’s squad in the Champions Trophy 2013, ODI World Cup 2015, and T20I World Cup 2016. He last played for Pakistan in a T20I against Australia in 2019.

It is notable that Mohammad Irfan announced his retirement on the same day as Mohammad Amir. Additionally, Imad Wasim bid farewell to international cricket one day before them.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed reacts to retirements of Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim

Sarfaraz Ahmed reacts to Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim’s retirement

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has reacted to the shocking retirement of pace bowler Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim.

Amir and Wasim came out of international retirement earlier this year and made themselves available for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which was played in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA) in June.

Wasim managed three wickets in three games at an average of 14.66 and scored a meagre 19 runs in two outings. Meanwhile, Amir was Pakistan’s best bowler in the tournament, taking seven wickets in four matches at an impressive average of 10.28.

However, 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 arch-rivals India.

Both players were not considered for Pakistan’s white-ball assignments after the T20 World Cup, which resulted in them stepping away from international cricket.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed, who is currently mentoring Dolphins in the Champions T20 Cup, posted a story on his official Instagram account, extending his best wishes to both players for their future endeavours.

“Happy retirement to both my teammates and brothers, best of luck for your future,” the former captain posted.

“Maddy [Imad] and I share great memories, winning [the] U19 World Cup final and Champions Trophy final.

“[Amir is a] Champion bowler and champion player, I Will never forget your world-class spell in [the] Champions Trophy final game.

“Be happy wherever you are with lots of prayers.”

It’s worth noting that Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir were part of the Pakistan squad that won the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 under the inspired leadership of Sarfaraz Ahmed.

READ: Saim Ayub opens up after missing maiden T20I century against South Africa

PCB reacts to Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim’s retirement

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) thanked pace bowler Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim for their contributions on Saturday after they announced their retirement from international cricket.

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Both players were not considered for Pakistan’s white-ball assignments after the T20 World Cup, which resulted in them stepping away from international cricket.

The PCB released a statement, thanking both players for their services and wishing them well in their future endeavours.

“All-rounder Imad Wasim and left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir have announced their retirements from international cricket. Both players last featured for Pakistan in this year’s ICC T20 World Cup held in the USA and West Indies,” the PCB said in a statement.

“On behalf of the PCB, I extend sincere gratitude to Amir and Imad for their services to Pakistan cricket and wish them the very best in their future endeavours,” PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmad stated.

READ: Mohammad Amir once again retires from international cricket

Mohammad Amir once again retires from international cricket

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has once again announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday, shattering the hopes of his fans who were waiting for his comeback.

Amir announced his decision in a heartfelt note posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, following the footsteps of his compatriot Imad Wasim, who announced his retirement yesterday.

“After careful consideration, I have taken the difficult decision to retire from international cricket,” he posted.

“These decisions are never easy but are inevitable. I feel this is the right time for the next generation to take the baton and elevate Pakistan Cricket to new heights.

“Representing my country has been and always will be the greatest honour of my life. I would sincerely like to thank the PCB, my family and friends and, above all, my fans for their continuous love & support.”

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

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

Amir made his international debut at the age of 17 during the ICC T20 World Cup 2009 and played a key role in Pakistan’s title victory.

He went on to represent Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 62 T20Is, taking 271 wickets and scoring 1,179 runs across formats.

He was also part of the Pakistan side that won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, under the inspired leadership of Sarfaraz Ahmed.

READ: Reeza Hendricks’ ton trumps Saim Ayub’s 98* as South Africa clinch T20I series

Mohammad Amir stars as New York Strikers thump Team Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI: Mohammad Amir, in a brilliant display of pace bowling, took three wickets to power New York Strikers to a dominant ten-wicket victory over Team Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024 here on Monday.

New York Strikers’ captain Sunil Narine opted to field first and Amir proved the decision right as he castled Phil Salt on the second ball of the innings.

Michael Pepper and Jonny Bairstow were bowled by Khuzaima Tanveer and Akeal Hosein respectively, leaving Team Abu Dhabi reeling at 11-3.

Kyle Mayers played an unbeaten yet cautious knock of 38 runs from 30 balls, being only the second batter to cross the double-figures from his side.

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Laurie Evans (12) was the second-highest scorer for Team Abu Dhabi as they were restricted to 73-7.

Mohammad Amir came back later to remove Muhammad Irfan and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, returning with bowling figures of 3-7 from his two overs.

In response, New York Strikers successfully chased the 74-run target in 6.2 overs without losing any wickets.

Kusal Perera led the chase with a blistering 56-run knock from 26 balls with the help of six boundaries and four sixes. Evin Lewis played second fiddle to Perera, scoring 17 off 12.

It’s worth noting that it was New York Strikers’ second victory in the Abu Dhabi T10 League and are now placed fifth in the standings, meanwhile, Team Abu Dhabi are sitting in third, having won two out of their four games.

Team Abu Dhabi Playing XI: Phil Salt (c), Michael Pepper, Jonny Bairstow, Kyle Mayers, Laurie Evans, Kadeem Alleyne, Muhammad Irfan, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Mark Adair, Zeeshan Naseer, Adam Milne, Noor Ahmad.

New York Strikers Playing XI: Kusal Perera, Evin Lewis, Kieron Pollard, Matheesha Pathirana, Sunil Narine (c), Donovan Ferreira, Dewald Brevis, Akeal Hosein, Doug Bracewell, Zeeshan Abid, Khuzaima Tanveer.

READ: How can India qualify for WTC final after crushing Australia in Perth Test?

Mohammad Amir advises Rizwan ‘to bat freely’

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has advised the national white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan to bat with a fresh mind without any pressure.

Rizwan took over the captaincy of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team after Babar Azam stepped down from the position last month.

In his first assignment as captain, Rizwan successfully guided his team to a historic victory, breaking a 22-year drought by securing an ODI series win in Australia.

However, during the subsequent three-match T20I series, Pakistan failed to continue their winning run and faced defeats in the first two games.

Rizwan came under fire for his batting performance as he bagged a duck in the first T20I and scored 166 off 26 in the second match.

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After the loss in the second T20I, Mohammad Amir, in a video on his YouTube channel, praised Rizwan’s captaincy but expressed concerns over his batting in the T20I format.

“Even though Mohammad Rizwan is so brave and captaining like a warrior, in batting he does seem stuck,” said Amir.

“Because he does not usually bat in such a hesitant manner as he has seemed to in the last two matches like he is stuck and batting cautiously.

“He should play freely, he is the captain, he should play with a fresh mind and perform.”

Notably, Rizwan and pace bowler Naseem Shah have been rested for the third T20I against Australia, with Haseebullah Khan and Jahandad Khan coming in as replacements.

READ: Mohammad Rizwan donates his gloves, shirt to SCG Museum

Mohammad Amir calls to ‘keep India out’ of Champions Trophy 2025

Left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir reacted strongly after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly refused to tour Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The ninth edition of the Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in the February- March window in 2025, however, India’s participation in the tournament is uncertain.

Previously, reports emerged in Indian media, citing a source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), that Team India will not be visiting Pakistan for the tournament citing security concerns.

Additionally, on Sunday, sources confirmed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that the Indian government is not ready to allow their cricket team to travel to Pakistan.

The news of India’s refusal was not well received by many former cricketers in Pakistan, including Mohammad Amir.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the left-arm pacer termed BCCI’s decision a ‘loss of cricket,’ while calling for replacing India if they don’t tour Pakistan.

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“This is the loss of cricket, and this shouldn’t have happened. You can’t make other teams suffer because of one team,” Amir stated.

“It would be better to keep India out of the tournament and add another team in their place. It is childish to refuse to play in Pakistan when other teams are ready to compete here.”

Mohammad Amir, who played a key role in Pakistan’s victory against India in the final of Champions Trophy 2017, opined that the ICC should be authorised to take action against a member board if its government politicises the game.

“There should be a rule in place where ICC has the authority to take strict action against a member board of their government who interferes in cricketing matters. Otherwise, every other team will say they will not travel here and there,” Mohammad Amir stated.

He expressed hope that the PCB would reject India’s demands and remain steadfast in its commitment to host the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.

“It seems the PCB is not going to fall in line this time as Mohsin Naqvi is the country’s interior minister, and he is not going to let Pakistan suffer after spending millions on the upgrades of the stadiums,” he concluded.

READ: Mohammad Rizwan opens up on Amir, Imad’s absence from T20I squad

Rizwan opens up on Amir, Imad’s absence from T20I squad

Pakistan white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan recently discussed the absence of experienced pacer Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim from the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Australia, which starts tomorrow.

Since the T20 World Cup, Pakistan cricket has undergone many changes, including Mohammad Rizwan replacing Babar Azam as the white-ball captain.

In his first assignment as captain, Rizwan successfully guided his team to a historic victory, breaking a 22-year drought by securing an ODI series win in Australia.

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During a media talk before the first T20I in Brisbane, Rizwan was asked about the changes in the squad since the T20 World Cup, especially the exclusion of key players such as Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Fakhar Zaman.

The wicket-keeper acknowledged the services of the aforementioned players and stated that it would not be easy for the youngsters to fill in their shoes.

“The names you’ve mentioned [Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Fakhar Zaman] are big names. It’s not easy to fill the gap they have left. You can’t replace them overnight; it will take some time,” he said.

“All four have contributed a lot to the team, and it’s hard to say how long it will take to fill their roles in the Pakistan lineup fully. Hopefully, with time, especially in T20s, we’ll find the right balance.”

However, he mentioned that he and his team is currently focusing on the upcoming series and aiming to win that in the first place.

“But right now, our focus is on the current series and how we can field the best XI. We’re working on it and have something in mind for that,” he concluded.

READ: Champions Trophy: Pakistan demands explanation for India’s refusal

Mohammad Amir reacts to Fakhar Zaman’s exclusion from Pakistan squad

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has commented on the exclusion of opening batter Fakhar Zaman from the white-ball squads for the upcoming tour of Australia and Zimbabwe.

Earlier today, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the central contracts for the 2024-25 international season, along with the squads for the tours to Australia and Zimbabwe.

However, Fakhar Zaman’s name was missing from the central contract list and squads for the upcoming tours.

The decision to drop Fakhar did not sit well with Mohammad Amir. He expressed his shock through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that Fakhar is the only impact player in Pakistan’s white-ball team.

“I am surprised that Fakhar Zaman is not in the team. He is the only impact player we have in white ball cricket,” Amir posted.

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The cricket board also appointed wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan as the captain for Pakistan’s white-ball team ahead of the upcoming tours of Australia and Zimbabwe.

The Australia tour will run from 4-18 November, while the matches in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, will be played from 24 November to 5 December.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the vice-captain and will lead the team in Rizwan’s absence during the T20I series against Zimbabwe.

Pakistan Squad for Australia Tour

ODI SQUAD: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi

T20I SQUAD: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan

Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe Tour

ODI SQUAD: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir

T20I SQUAD: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan

READ: Mohammad Rizwan appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain

Mohammad Amir comes out in support of Babar Azam

Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir threw his weight behind under-fire Babar Azam after Pakistan’s long-awaited Test victory at home.

A fierce spin attack on Friday, powered Pakistan to their first victory at home in Test cricket since their win against South Africa back in February 2021 when they thumped England by 152 runs in the second Test of the three-match series.

Ahead of the aforementioned fixture, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made four surprising changes, including dropping their star batter Babar Azam, who has not crossed the fifty-run barrier in the format since December 2022.

Consistent domestic performer Kamran Ghulam, who came in as Babar’s replacement, smashed a well-crafted century on debut, pivotal in guiding Pakistan to a formidable total in the first innings.

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Ghulam’s century made things worse for Babar as social media trolls targetted the latter, claiming that the national team eventually won at home after he was dropped.

This did not sit well with experienced pacer Mohammad Amir, who despite being a a vocal critic of Babar Azam in the past, supported the star batter amid social media trolling.

“Please stop with these petty talks that Babar wasn’t in the team, that is why we won. We won because of better strategy and took advantage of playing on home ground,” wrote Amir on X, formerly Twitter.

He then went on to urge fans to discuss a player’s performance instead of getting “personal”.

“Please don’t get personal with your players. Criticize their performance, but avoid personal remarks,” he added.

READ: Uncapped spinner replaces Shakib in Bangladesh Test squad