If I Had Played All formats I Would Have Retired From International Cricket By Now: Mohammad Amir

Pakistan fast bowler, Mohammad Amir, has cited ‘workload management’ as the major reason behind his pre-mature retirement from Test cricket.

Amir, who missed out on five years of international cricket due to his involvement in the 2010 match-fixing scandal, made his comeback in 2016 amid rising expectations that he would spearhead Pakistan’s bowling attack in the longest format of the game.

However, the fast bowler to emulate the performances he had displayed when he first burst on the scene, and amid speculation on his place in the team, he shocked everyone when he announced his retirement from red-ball cricket at the age of 28 last year.

Amir’s decision was met with raging criticism from every nook and corner of Pakistan, with his detractors accusing him of ‘betraying’ Pakistan cricket despite getting a second chance to redeem himself.

Mohammad Amir has now responded to the criticism, saying that if he hadn’t retired from Test cricket, then given his workload, his career would have been over by now.

“People talk about my age and retirement but they don’t realise that I did not play cricket for five years. Even if you don’t start your car for a week, even that needs oil change to get it running properly once again,” Mohammad Amir told Cricket Pakistan.

“My workload management was becoming a major issue which forced me to take that decision. I was continuously facing fitness issues and our physiotherapist Cliffe Deacon can confirm that I was number one on the treatment list, during the England tour in 2018. If I had played all formats, I would have retired from international cricket by now,” he added.

‘New Zealand tour could make or break for many cricketers’- Mohammad Amir

Mohammad Amir is currently in Sri Lanka for the inaugural Lanka Premier League. The 2017 Champions Trophy winner expressed his disappointment on missing out on selection in the 35-men-squad for the upcoming trip to New Zealand.

Amir, however, said that he is determined to regain his spot besides adding the upcoming series in New Zealand could be ‘make or break’ for many Pakistani cricketers.

“It was disappointing as I was expecting to be part of the squad (for New Zealand tour). It was the selector’s decision but this motivates me to perform in a better manner, improve my fitness and regain my place in the side,” Mohammad Amir said.

“The New Zealand tour could be make or break for many cricketers, which has also been the case in the past as well. The conditions are difficult for batting while the bowlers also have small margin of error due to small boundaries. So the players, especially the youngsters, who perform well can improve their career trajectory,” he warned.

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