Amidst fervent appeals from fans urging him to reconsider his retirement, Mohammad Amir has remained resolute in his decision to step away from international cricket. However, there are now hints of a possible reunion between the former left-arm fast bowler and Pakistan’s T20I captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024.
During an X Spaces session, Shaheen Shah Afridi responded to fan queries by expressing his openness to discussing Amir’s potential return to the national team. He recounted the positive experience of bowling alongside Amir after a hiatus of almost 5 years, highlighting their excellent partnership.
“I will talk to Mohammad Amir if he’s available to come back for Pakistan once again. Amir and I bowled together after almost 5 years. It was a very good experience to bowl with him; our partnership was great,” Afridi stated.
Amir had retired from international cricket in 2020, attributing his decision to alleged favoritism and injustice by head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis. Despite persistent pleas from fans, Amir remained firm in his resolve to move on from international cricket.
“At the moment, I have moved on. I have different things in my life to do,” Amir stated in a press conference. “For me, this debate is closed. After three years out, I don’t think it would be a sensible decision for me to come back. For now, at least.”
However, given the positive partnership between Amir and Shaheen Afridi and the impending T20 World Cup, there is speculation about the left-arm pacer’s potential return. The camaraderie between the two could inject a dynamic element into Pakistan’s pace attack in the upcoming tournament.
Amir, with an impressive international career that includes 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is, played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s ICC T20 World Cup 2009 and ICC Champions Trophy 2017 victories. Despite Amir’s consistent reluctance to return to the national team, the evolving cricket landscape and his strong bond with Shaheen Afridi provide a slight opening for a potential comeback, adding an intriguing subplot to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign.