Former Pakistani left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has disclosed the reasons behind his premature retirement from international cricket, citing alleged bias in team selection and mistreatment by former team management.
Speaking on a private television channel’s program regarding the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, Amir recounted the challenges he encountered during his career, particularly during Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Pakistan was traveling to New Zealand during COVID. Forty players were selected, but my name was excluded,” he stated, implying that his exclusion was intentional.
The 32-year-old fast bowler also asserted that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was utilized as a means to sideline him and veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik. According to Amir, the national squad was announced prior to the tournament to prevent them from delivering strong performances that could have warranted a recall.
“PSL was about to commence, but they announced the team beforehand so that Amir and Malik wouldn’t perform well, and they wouldn’t have to select us,” he said.
Amir also criticized former head coach Waqar Younis, accusing him of making biased decisions against him. He further claimed that certain cricketers from the 1990s actively attempted to sabotage his career.
“A former cricketer from the 90s made every effort to destroy my career,” Amir remarked, without naming anyone.
Reflecting on his PSL performances, Amir highlighted his Super Over for Karachi Kings that played a crucial role in leading the team to the final. He stated that despite his strong performances, a former member of the coaching staff, also from the 1990s, kept him out of the squad, resulting in widespread criticism.
“Everyone was questioning why Amir wasn’t in the New Zealand squad despite performing well,” Amir said.
He further alleged that the coach provided a vague response, stating, ‘He is in our plans, but we need to keep him under pressure for now. We will see later.’
Amir initially announced his retirement from international cricket in 2020, citing mistreatment from the management. However, he reversed his decision ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 and was recalled to the national team.
On December 14, 2024, Amir once again announced his retirement from international cricket, marking the conclusion of his controversial career with Pakistan.
