After Mohammad Amir’s Test exit, PCB makes mandatory for stars to play domestic cricket

Hell has broken loose in Pakistan cricket ever since left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir bid goodbye to Test cricket. It is also speculated that the 27-year-old bowler is eyeing to shift base to the United Kingdom and will play only in the T20Is and ODIs for his national side. The decision did not go down well with several fans and former cricketers who were expecting Amir to serve Pakistan in the upcoming World Test Championship after he rediscovered his touch in the recently held cricket World Cup with 17 scalps – the most by a Pakistani bowler in the tournament.

Amir’s decision has prompted PCB to take strict measures

Meanwhile, the speculation that Amir will shift base to the UK (his wife Narjis is a British passport holder) has prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to make the players’ participation in domestic cricket mandatory. According to India Today that cited reports quoting a PCB official, the players have to play domestic matches if they want to represent Pakistan internationally.

“For example, Mohammad Aamir who has now retired from Test cricket has to play in the domestic One-Day Cup and National T20 competitions to be considered for national selection,” the source was quoted as saying. He also said that even players who are active in Test cricket must play first-class cricket matches for their selection for the national team. Amir, who served quite a few years of the ban in connection to a spot-fixing scandal, has taken 119 wickets in 36 Test matches.

The PCB has been in action ever since former captain Imran Khan took over as the country’s prime minister. Pakistan’s only World Cup-winning captain decided to revamp the country’s domestic cricket structure with the first-class competition now being restricted to only six provincial teams. On the other hand, 16 regional teams will compete in Division 2 besides in national one-day and T20 competitions.

The PCB will initially offer domestic contracts to 34 players who are picked for a provincial side for they have decided to end the participation of institutional sides like departments and banks in first-class competition.