Wasim Akram surprised by Mohammad Amir’s decision to quit Test cricket

There are quite a few retirements going around. After the 2019 World Cup, there are multiple stars who bid adieu to the game. However, there was one cricketer who decided to call it a day in Test cricket at the age of just 27. Pakistan’s premier fast bowler Mohammad Amir announced his retirement from Test cricket a couple of days ago.

The 27-year-old stated that he wanted to concentrate on white-ball cricket. Hence, he decided to hang up his boots in the longest format of the game. Amir picked up 119 wickets at an average of 30.47 in 36 Test matches. The left-arm pacer first broke onto the international scene in 2009.

He made his debut in all three formats in the span of a couple of months. Amir soon made a name for himself and was one of the most exciting talents coming through the ranks. The left-arm quick could move the ball both ways at pace and troubled the best batsmen very early in his career.

However, he got into the spot-fixing scandal and subsequently, he was banned for five years. However, he made a comeback to the national side in early 2016 and has been a regular member of the Pakistan side in all three formats.

‘Amir’s early Test retirement a bit surprising’

Earlier this year, Amir had revealed that he will manage and monitor his workload pretty closely and expressed his desire to play fewer Test matches in order to remain fit and play for a longer duration. He had said that he will not give up Test cricket but play fewer games. However, the Punjab-born pacer has decided to call it quits from the longest format.

Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram was pretty surprised by Amir’s decision. He felt that Test cricket is the format where one is judged the best. Moreover, with Pakistan lined up to tour Australia and England in the upcoming ICC Test Championship, they will need their premier left-arm fast bowler.

Akram also revealed that when a bowler is about 27-28 years old, that’s when he’s at his peak. Thus, Amir’s decision baffles him and he took to Twitter to express his views.

To me Mohammad Amir retiring from Test cricket is a bit surprising because you peak at 27-28 and Test cricket is where you are judged against the best, it’s the ultimate format. Pakistan will need him in two Tests in Australia and then three in England.

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) July 26, 2019