Fast bowler Mohammad Amir has finally revealed the reasons behind his retirement from international cricket, saying he felt sidelined and ignored by the Pakistan cricket setup after the T20 World Cup.
In an interview to a local news channel, Amir expressed his disappointment at the way he was treated following the tournament.
“After the T20 World Cup ended, no one even talked to me. No one told me if I was part of the future plans. 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,” he said.
Amir revealed that he had even given up a county contract to make himself available for the World Cup.
“I came to play the World Cup after leaving my county deal. Honestly, 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,” he added.
On former Pakistan captain Babar Azam, Amir showed support while also pointing out technical flaws.
“Babar is the best cricketer Pakistan has right now, there’s no doubt about it. But he’s going through a rough patch, and it’s lasted a bit too long. I’ve noticed he’s been late on the ball lately, which is affecting his shot selection,” Amir observed.
Speaking about the aggressive mindset on field, Amir said, “There are no friends or seniors and juniors on the field. If a batter hits me for a boundary on the first ball, I won’t go hug him, of course, I’ll say something to shake his focus. That’s part of the game.”
He recalled how the game used to be tougher in the past.
“Cricket used to be fierce. Sir Vivian Richards is with us, ask him. Back then, it looked like bats might be thrown at any moment. 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 said.
Amir emphasized that controlled aggression is important.
“If I cross the line and use inappropriate language, the umpire or match referee will fine me. If they’re not fining me, it means I’m staying within limits,” he added.
Talking about his current team, Quetta Gladiators, Amir said it’s unfair to judge teams or players based on just two or three games.
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