After Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir reverses international retirement; available for T20 World Cup 2024

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir is likely to make international cricket return ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 for Pakistan. On 17 December 2020, he announced his retirement from international cricket. However, he has been actively playing in the PSL and other domestic cricket leagues.

He played in the recent PSL 2024 season for Quetta Gladiators taking 10 wickets in nine matches. He was accurate and was swinging the new ball across the different venues.

Amir retired from international cricket almost at the end of 2020 after playing the 2019 World Cup. While retiring back then, he said that he decided to retire from the game due to the constant torture on him by the PCB.

He had already been banned as well from international cricket for his match-fixing charges and his return to international cricket was not a smooth ride. He spoke to Pakistan’s Samaa TV about how he was mentally tortured by the PCB which forced him to retire from international cricket.

“I am leaving cricket for now because I’m being mentally tortured. I don’t think I can bear such torture. I’ve borne lots of torture from 2010 to 2015, for which I served my time. I’ve been tortured by being told the PCB invested a lot in me. I’ll just say two people invested in me a lot: [former PCB chairman] Najam Sethi and [former Pakistan captain] Shahid Afridi. They were the only two.

“The rest of the team was saying, ‘We don’t want to play with Amir’. Recently, the atmosphere that’s been created means I get taunted all the time by being told I don’t want to play for my country. Who doesn’t want to play for their country? Every two months, someone says something against me. Sometimes the bowling coach [Waqar Younis] says Amir ditched us, sometimes I’m told my workload is unsatisfactory. Enough is enough” Amir had said back then.

The PCB then made his international retirement official as they put out a statement of the same. The board revealed his conversations with the PCB and the result of it.

“Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Wasim Khan spoke with Mohammad Amir this afternoon following reports that the fast bowler had announced his retirement from international cricket. The 28-year-old confirmed to the PCB chief executive that he has no desires or intensions of playing international cricket and as such, he should not be considered for future international matches,” a PCB statement said.

Now the pacer has reconsidered his decision and through a tweet on Sunday, March 24 has hinted about his international return. He said that he still dreams of playing for the country and that he has been discussing about a potential return with his family members. He further said in his tweet that he wants to play in the T20 World Cup for Pakistan and play his role in possibly helping the team win the ICC title.

Also Read: “Have done almost everything now” – Rohit Sharma declares ahead of playing under Hardik Pandya

Mohammad Amir Makes Himself Available For T20 World Cup 2024

I still dream to play for Pakistan!

life brings us to the points where at times we have to reconsider our decisions, There has been few positive discussions between myself and the PCB where they respectfully made me feel that I was needed and can still play for Pakistan after…

— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) March 24, 2024

“I still dream to play for Pakistan! life brings us to the points where at times we have to reconsider our decisions, There has been few positive discussions between myself and the PCB where they respectfully made me feel that I was needed and can still play for Pakistan after discussing with family and we’ll wishers I declare that I am available to be considered for upcoming t20WC ,I want do this for my country as it comes before my personal decisions. Donning the green jersey and serving my country has always been, and will continue to be, my greatest aspirations,” he wrote on X.

Before retiring from the game, Amir had played 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is for the country taking 259 international wickets.

Also Read: Watch: Krunal Pandya’s unexpected gesture after Sanju Samson stops him from taking Riyan Parag’s catch