Mohammad Amir Was Dropped As His Performances Were Not Up To The Mark: Babar Azam

In December last year, fast bowler, Mohammad Amir announced a sudden retirement from playing international at the age of 28. He had already quit playing Test cricket in 2019 to focus on white-ball cricket.

Mohammad Amir took 81 wickets in 61 ODIs and 59 wickets in 50 T20Is for the Men in Green at the international arena. The left-arm pacer was disappointed after being dropped from the T20 squad to tour New Zealand.

The seamer was unhappy with the management comprising of head coach, Misbah-ul-Haq, and bowling coach, Waqar Younis. He says that he was ‘mentally tortured’ by the management.

“Right now I am leaving cricket. I am being mentally tortured. I don’t think, I will be able to handle this kind of torture because I have been tortured a lot from 2010 to 2015,” Mohammed Amir said.

The selectors will consider Mohammad Amir if he regains form: Babar Azam

Pakistan’s newly appointed all-format captain, Babar Azam, without any hesitation, has revealed that Amir was dropped only because of his ordinary form, and not anything else. Azam says that if the pacer picks up his form and fitness in domestic cricket, he will be considered for selection in the national team.

The number does concur with Azam’s words: Amir didn’t pick a single wicket in the T20Is against England, which was ahead of the tour to New Zealand; he went wicketless in 4 of the 7 T20Is in 2019 and was expensive as well. With several young bowlers coming up and performing well, Amir’s place in the eleven was questionable.

“Mohammad Amir was dropped as his performances were not up to the mark. If he regains his form and continues to perform, then selectors will definitely consider his return and talk to him,” Babar Azam said during a media interaction.

Babar Azam missed all the matches – 3 T20Is and 2 Tests – against New Zealand due to a thumb injury he suffered during a practice session ahead of the matches. The right-hander has now returned to nets and is timing the ball well. The 26-year-old will lead his side in the upcoming home Tests against South Africa commencing 26 January in Karachi.

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