Mohammad Amir likely to make international comeback for Pakistan: Report

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Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Amir is likely to make an international comeback, media reports have suggested. The 30-year-old pacer had alleged "mental torture" by team management and announced his retirement from all formats of the game at the age of 28 in December 2020.

The left-arm had made a Pakistan comeback in 2016 after the completion of his five-year ban which he faced due to his role in a spot-fixing scandal during a 2010 Test match in England. The 147 matches Amir has played for Pakistan across formats has seen him pick 259 wickets.

A report published in 'Pakobserver.net' has suggested that Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) acting chief Najam Sethi is keen on giving Amir one final chance. Since his retirement, Amir has kept himself busy by playing franchise cricket all over the world.

The season 8 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was when the prospects of his return to the national side were renewed, according to the report. In the PSL 2023, the talented cricketer finished 14th on the list of highest wicket-takers.

He picked nine wickets in seven matches with injury playing a factor as well. The glimpses of his previous self have caught the attention of PCB’s selection committee.

During the PSL 2023, Amir was also in the news for his comment on Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Ahead of his side Karachi Kings' match against Babar's Peshawar Zalmi, he had said that he would not differentiate between Babar and a tailender while bowling for his team.

“These kinds of matchups and player rivalries keep players on their toes. I personally like these sort of challenges because it keeps me focused. My job is to take wickets and win matches for my team, so for me, facing Babar or a tailender batting at number 10 will be the same," Amir had said.

The comment did not go well with several Pakistan cricketers including Shaheen Shah Afridi and they suggested that Amir should should talk respectfully about the captain of Pakistan cricket team.

Even Shahid Afridi admitted to texting Amir and scolding him.

"I told Amir, 'what do you want?’ You have gained so much respect, you faced a blot on your reputation and from there, you made a return. You got a new life, in a way. What are you even trying to do?” Afridi had siad on Samaa TV after Amir threw a ball towards Babar in frustration during a PSL 8 match.

Ye koi tareeka hai? (Is this the way to play?) There are juniors around you, you are using bad words. There are fans who are disheartened to see that. Even we have used such words and sometimes, the camera used to catch us. There are families, kids watching you on television. Aggression is fine, but keep it under control,” Afridi had added.

“If you want to play for Pakistan, you have to play alongside Babar only. Will you be able to look him in the eye? Can you play under his captaincy?

Focus on your performance, control your aggression, and go back home peacefully,” Afridi had explained.

Amid all these reported rift with Babar and rise of pacer Shaeen, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, it would be interesting to see if rumours around Amir’s international comeback frutifies.