Fast bowler Mohammad Amir declared he was coming out of international retirement and available for this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, after Pakistan announced changes to their selection process which made him feel “needed.”
Amir’s precocious, stop-start career was halted in 2010 after he along with then-Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and fellow paceman Mohammad Asif were banned for five years over a spot-fixing scandal. All three were also jailed by a UK court.
Amir returned to play for Pakistan in 2016 but announced a shock retirement in December 2020 due to poor form.
After “positive” talks with Pakistan Cricket Board officials, he said the PCB made him feel “that I was needed and can still play for Pakistan.”
The World Cup will be held in the United States and the West Indies in June.
Amir, 31, has represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 50 T20Is. His international wicket haul stands at 259, with 59 coming in the game’s shortest format.
Amir’s experience would be vital for a team whose skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi is struggling for form and Naseem Shah has only recently returned from injury.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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