Pakistani speedster Mohammad Amir has come up with a shocking statement mentioning that he will retire from international cricket. The left-arm pacer also added that he has undergone ‘mental torture’ because of the way he has been treated by the national team management.
Amir, who has already pulled himself out of Test cricket in June 2019, made it clear that he won’t be able to play under the current Pakistan team management. According to the cricketer, his omission from the Pakistan squad for the ongoing series against the Kiwis came as a ‘wake up call’ for him.
However, after losing his spot in the national side, Amir went on to participate in the inaugural Lanka Premier League. He put up a brilliant show in the tournament by picking up 11 wickets for Galle Gladiators who managed to reach the final.
Pakistan journalist Shoaib Jatt shared a video of Amir speaking on the issue on social media.
“No, I am not going away from cricket. If you have seen the way the atmosphere over here and the way I have been sidelined. I got a wake-up call there when I was not selected in 35 boys. If I don’t get selected in 35-member squad, then it means to wake up call for me.” Amir said.
“I don’t think I can play cricket under this management. I think I should leave cricket this time. I am being tortured mentally.”
“I don’t think I can tolerate any more torture now. I have seen a lot of torture from 2010 to 2015. I was away from the game and sentenced for my mistake.”
Here is Pakistani fast bowler @iamamirofficial announcing retirement from international cricket as protest against Pak team management’s behaviour. he was talking to me pic.twitter.com/TMC2LDEZHb
— Shoaib Jatt (@Shoaib_Jatt) December 17, 2020
While most of the players refused to play with Amir after his return from a 5-year-ban, Amir went on to thank PCB chairman Najam Sethi and former all-rounder Shahid Afridi for their continued support.
“I am being tortured again and again that PCB invested in me. I still give credit to the two people from PCB. I returned after completing the sentence of five years. Not that I returned after a year. Sethi sahab and Shahid Afridi, were the two people whom I will thank forever. Both of them supported me at a tough time. The rest of the team said that we will not play with Mohammad amir,” he added.
Mohammad Amir’s debut for Pakistan roots back to 2009 when he was just 17 years old. However, his promising career took a massive blow when he was banned for five years because of his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal at Lords.
After making his return to the national side in 2016, Amir continued to prove his worth by putting up match-winning performances. He single-handedly rattled India’s top order in the 2017 Champions Trophy final which helped his side claim the trophy.