Previous Pakistan left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has exposed the reasons behind his early retirement from international cricket, citing alleged bias in team selection and neglect by former team management.
Speaking on a private television channelโs programme regarding the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, Amir reminded the challenges he faced during his career, mostly during Pakistanโs tour of New Zealand amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
โPakistan was going to New Zealand during COVID. Forty players were selected, but my name was not there,โ he stated, suggesting that his exclusion was thoughtful.
The 32-year-old fast bowler also alleged that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was used as a means to sideline him and expert all-rounder Shoaib Malik. According to Amir, the national squad was proclaimed ahead of the tournament to prevent them from putting in strong performances that could have got them a recall.
โPSL was about to start, but they proclaimed the team initial so that Amir and Malik wouldn’t perform well and they wouldn’t have to take us,โ he said.
Amir also took goal at previous head coach Waqar Younis, disapproving him of making unfair decisions against him. He further demanded that definite cricketers from the 1990s actively annoyed to upset his career.
โA previous cricketer from the 90s annoyed his best to abolish my career,โ Amir remarked, without naming anyone.
Reflecting on his PSL presentations, Amir highlighted his Super Over for Karachi Kings that played a key role in taking the team to the final. He said that although his strong performances, a previous member of the coaching staff, also from the 1990s, saved him out of the squad, primary to extensive blame.
โEveryone was asking him why Amir was not in the New Zealand squad despite performing well,โ Amir said.
He further unproven that the coach had given a unclear response, saying,ย โHe is in our plans, but we need to keep him under weight for now. We will see late.โ
Amir firstly announced his retirement from international cricket in 2020, naming mistreatment from the management. Yet, he upturned his decision ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 and was remembered to the national team.
