NEW DELHI: Former fast bowler Mohammad Amir has revealed that he felt sidelined and ignored by the “Pakistan cricket setup” following the 2024 T20 World Cup, attributing the lack of communication from the board as the key reason behind his retirement late last year. Amir, along with Imad Wasim, had come out of retirement to participate in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan’s disappointing campaign saw them crash out before the Super Eight stage.
The duo announced their retirements on consecutive days in December.
Speaking on a TV channel, Amir said, “I felt sidelined and ignored by the Pakistan cricket setup after the T20 World Cup. After the T20 World Cup ended, no one even talked to me. No one told me if I was part of the future plans.”
He added, “A wise person understands the signs – if you’re not in the plans, then you have to think about yourself. That’s exactly what I did. I’ve made up my mind now – thank you very much, international cricket.”
Amir had previously retired from international cricket in December 2020, citing issues with then-coaches Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis.
He also disclosed that he had turned down a County contract after being asked by the PCB to represent Pakistan at the World Cup in the Americas.
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“Honestly speaking, I ended up spending more money than I made. I travelled with my trainer, and all those expenses came out of my own pocket. But that’s a different matter,” Amir said.
On the game itself, Amir advocated for an aggressive mindset in cricket.
“Cricket used to be fierce. Being mentally aggressive is part of the game’s beauty. It’s not about disrespect – it’s about shifting the batter’s focus. Off the field, we all hang out and joke around,” he shared.
The 33-year-old also threw his support behind Babar Azam, expressing confidence that Pakistan’s star batter will bounce back, while also pointing out technical flaws in his game.
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