Mohammad Hafeez reveals conversation with Mohammad Amir on possible national team comeback

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir retired from international cricket back in December 2020 citing ‘mental torture’ by the team management. However, talks of his return were all over the country following a change in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) administration in December 2022 after the sacking of the then Chairman Ramiz Raja.

Recently, newly appointed team director of Pakistan, Mohammad Hafeez who will travel with the team as a head coach in the upcoming three-match Test series in Australia, revealed a recent conversation with Amir where he talked about his future.

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“I called Amir, I told that if he wanted to play for Pakistan, he has to first take his retirement back. ‘Go back to domestic cricket and perform. Then, the selection committee will assess your performances and select you. Once you return to Pakistan, I will assure that you will get equal opportunities’, I told him. He said he had already moved on. He believes his priorities has changed, his life has changed. And we have to respect his decision,” Hafeez was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Hafeez further said that Amir isn’t willing to start from scratch again and is more willing to play in international leagues.

“He told me he feels better playing at international leagues. He does not want to start from scratch again. That is his decision, and we have to respect that,” he added.

Mohammad Amir last played for Pakistan in August 2020

Notably, Amir made his international debut during a T20I against England in 2009 and got into the limelight due to his ability to swing the ball both ways. However, he almost jeopardized his career due to his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal of 2010 in England and faced a ban for five years.

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Amir made a remarkable comeback in 2017 as he helped Pakistan win the Champions Trophy 2017 with his incredible new ball spell in the final where he scalped the big wickets of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan.

He further finished as the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in the 2019 World Cup with 17 wickets to his name from eight matches. He last represented Pakistan in a T20I against England in August 2020. The 31-year-old scalped 119 and 81 wickets from 36 Tests and 61 ODIs respectively. The left-arm seamer also picked 59 wickets from 50 T20Is as well.