Indian Management Never Questioned Jasprit Bumrah, They Backed Him: Mohammad Amir

Former Pakistan left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir has cited the example of Indian pace-bowling sensation Jasprit Bumrah to cite the example of how team-management should work while taking a dig at his own team-management.

In December 2020, Mohammad Amir sent shockwaves around the cricket world when he announced his premature retirement from international cricket. Amir had cited a lack of support and ‘torture’ from the Misbah-ul-Haq-led team-management after he was overlooked for the T20Is in New Zealand.

Amir cited the example of Jasprit Bumrah stating that the team-management did not question the fast bowler even when he was struggling to take wickets following his return from injury.

The former Pakistan speedster stated that the job of team-management is to support players and not question them after a few poor performances.

“I think it is not the right mindset to look at performance of only four or five matches. If you remember, [Jasprit] Bumrah had only one wicket in 16 matches when he was playing Australia series but nobody questioned him because they knew that he is a match-winning bowler. That was the time they [Indian team management] should have supported him and they did that,” said Mohammad Amir in an interview with Cricket Pakistan.

“You are given the job to help the player when he is not performing and not just discard him from the side. If it’s like this, then we should give you an entire team made up of players like Cristiano Ronaldo so that you can sit back and relax and do nothing,” Mohammad Amir added.

Amir further stated that he took the decision to retire after assessing the situation and after he had weighed all his options. He further clarified that he has no issues with the support staff. The former Pakistan pacer added that he would never have taken retirement but the statements about him by the team-management regarding his Test retirement proved to be a death knell.

”I carefully looked at all my options and assessed the situation before taking the decision about retirement. I’m enjoying cricket and spending time with my family and currently have no plans about taking back my retirement,” he said.

“If it was only about my performance, I would have never taken the decision about retirement. But their [team management] statements about me regarding my retirement from Test cricket really hurt me. I have no personal issue with them as they are my elders and legends of the game,” Amir concluded.

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