Today's Edition
Lahore (Aletihad)
Nearly three months after a very content and realistic-sounding Mohammad Amir told Aletihad that he has ruled out a comeback to the Pakistan national team, the left-arm fast bowler has turned on his decision.
The pacer announced on Sunday that he was coming out of retirement and available for this year's Twenty20 World Cup, even as changes are being made at the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Amir's precocious career was halted in 2010 after he along with then-Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and fellow pacer Mohammad Asif were banned for five years over a spot-fixing scandal. All three were also jailed.
Amir returned to play for Pakistan in 2016 but announced a shock retirement in December 2020 after he was not selected due to poor form.
A good performance at the Abu Dhabi T10 League prompted the question from Aletihad, that a few more good performances – he also went on to do well for Desert Vipers at the International League T20 tournament in UAE a month later – can mean he could be in contention.
But Amir, 31, said he will have to be supremely fit and prove himself from the domestic grind to work his way back to the top, something he was not keen on at the expense of his family. He was clear in ruling out a comeback.
On Sunday, he struck a different note. "I still dream to play for Pakistan! Life brings us to the points where at times we have to reconsider our decisions," Amir wrote on social media platform X.
I still dream to play for Pakistan!
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) March 24, 2024
life brings us to the points where at times we have to reconsider our decisions, There has been few positive discussions between myself and the PCB where they respectfully made me feel that I was needed and can still play for Pakistan after…
U-turn
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. I declare I am available to be considered for upcoming T20WC".
Amir has represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 50 T20Is. His announcement came a day after all-rounder Imad Wasim reversed his own decision to retire four months ago and made himself available to play in this year's World Cup.
Earlier on Sunday, newly elected PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced a seven-member selection panel, making the captain and head coach part of the process.
"We have reorganised the selection committee with seven members but the different thing is that there will be no chairman," Naqvi told a press conference, adding that each member would have "equal powers".
Former captain Mohammad Yousuf, Wahab Riaz, Abdul Razzaq and Asad Shafiq – all played for Pakistan – will be joined by the current captain, the head coach and a data analyst.
The committee will soon announce probables for a two-week training camp to be held at army base Kakul from Monday, Naqvi said, and confirm the captain choice post that.
The PCB chairman also announced the restoration of a central contract for fast bowler Haris Rauf, who was suspended last month after he refused to play Tests in Australia. According to Naqvi, Rauf has claimed "that there was some misunderstanding so we have restored his central contract".
Pakistan will play five T20Is against New Zealand at home followed by two in Ireland and four in England before featuring in the World Cup.
Amir rules out Pakistan comeback: I have moved on, he says in Abu Dhabi
— Aletihad English (@AletihadEn) November 30, 2023
Read more: https://t.co/JRxsDLLpBm@iamamirofficial#AletihadNewsCenter
