Nine months after reversing his international retirement, Mohammad Amir has decided to hang up his boots again.
Amir, who first retired from cricket in 2020 after claiming to be “mentally tortured” by the team management, reversed his decision in March this year. The 32-year-old had stated “positive discussions” with the PCB as the reason for his comeback, confirming that he would be available for T20 World Cup selection.
The quick played 12 games thereafter, including four in the multi-nation competition. Pakistan crashed out of the first round of the T20 World Cup, and Amir grabbed seven wickets at an average of 10.28.
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He has not been selected to represent Pakistan again, and on Saturday (December 14), announced his second retirement. In a statement, Amir said: “After careful consideration, I have taken the difficult decision to retire from international cricket. These decisions are never easy but are inevitable. I feel this is the right time for the next generation to take the baton and elevate Pakistan Cricket to new heights.
“Representing my country has been and always will be the greatest honour of my life. I would sincerely like to thank the PCB, my family and friends, and above all, my fans for their continuous support.”
Amir, who was involved in the spot-fixing saga of 2010 and was banned from cricket for five years along with being given a jail sentence in the UK, played 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 62 T20Is for the team. He had announced his retirement from Test cricket in 2019.
Second retirement in Pakistan cricket in a day
Amir’s retirement is the second instance of a Pakistan player announcing his international farewell after an initial U-turn. On Friday, Imad Wasim, who had retired last November before reversing his decision, also confirmed he would be stepping away. Wasim, like Amir, also played in the T20 World Cup, held in the USA and the Caribbean.
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