Mohammad Amir Breaks Silence on Early Retirement

Former Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir has disclosed the reasons behind his early retirement from international cricket, citing alleged favoritism in team selection and unfair treatment by the former team management.

During an interview on a private television program discussing the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, Amir reflected on the difficulties he encountered, particularly during Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pakistan was touring New Zealand during COVID. A squad of 40 players was selected, yet my name was not included,” he stated, suggesting that his exclusion was intentional.

The 32-year-old pacer also claimed that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was strategically used to sideline him and veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik. According to Amir, the national team was announced before the PSL began to prevent them from delivering standout performances that could have justified their selection.

“The PSL was about to start, but they named the squad early so that Malik and I wouldn’t have the chance to perform well and earn a place,” he alleged.

Amir further accused former head coach Waqar Younis of bias against him and asserted that certain cricketers from the 1990s had attempted to derail his career.

“A former cricketer from the 90s did everything possible to end my career,” he remarked, without revealing any names.

He pointed to his strong performances in the PSL, particularly a crucial Super Over for Karachi Kings that helped them reach the final. Despite his form, he claimed that a former coaching staff member from the 1990s deliberately kept him out of the squad, sparking widespread criticism.

“Everyone was questioning why I wasn’t included in the New Zealand squad despite my performances,” Amir said.

He further alleged that a member of the coaching staff had responded vaguely, saying, “He is in our plans, but we need to keep him under pressure for now. We’ll decide later.”

Amir initially retired from international cricket in 2020, citing mistreatment from the team management. However, he made a comeback ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 and was recalled to the national squad.

On December 14, 2024, Amir announced his retirement from international cricket once again, bringing an end to his turbulent career with Pakistan.