Pakistan paceman Mohammad Amir quits international cricket

Pakistan's Mohammad Amir looks on during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Pakistan and Bangladesh at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on July 5, 2019. (AFP)
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Updated 17 December 2020
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Pakistan paceman Mohammad Amir quits international cricket

  • Amir says was “mentally tortured” by Pakistan teammates and coaches, the national board, and by opponents wherever he played
  • The cricket board not thanking Amir for his services underlined the depth of the estrangement between them

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan officials confirmed fast bowler Mohammad Amir's engaging international cricket career ended on Thursday.
Amir announced his decision to local Samaa TV, saying he was “mentally tortured” by Pakistan teammates and coaches, the national board, and by opponents wherever he played. 

Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Wasim Khan then spoke to the 28-year-old Amir.
"He has no desires or intentions of playing international cricket and as such, he should not be considered for future international matches,” the PCB said in a statement.
“This is a personal decision of Mohammad Amir, which the PCB respects, and as such, will not make any further comment on this matter at this stage.”
The board not thanking Amir for his services underlined the depth of the estrangement between them.
The left-armer took 259 wickets across 36 tests, 61 one-day internationals and 50 Twenty20s.
Amir was 18 when he was banned in 2010 for five years and jailed for three months for spot-fixing in a test series in England. He was allowed to return to cricket a few months early and recalled by Pakistan in 2016.
In 2019 he no longer wanted to play tests, to focus on white-ball cricket and prolong his international career.
His last international was in August in a T20 against England. He was not part of the limited-overs home series against Zimbabwe and left out of the T20 series in New Zealand starting on Friday.
“I am leaving cricket for now because I'm being mentally tortured,” Amir told Samaa TV. "I don't think I can bear such torture.
"I've borne lots of torture from 2010 to 2015, for which I served my time. I've been tortured by being told the PCB invested a lot in me. I'll just say two people invested in me a lot: Najam Sethi (the former PCB chairman) and Shahid Afridi (former Pakistan captain). They were the only two.
"The rest of the team was saying we don't want to play with Amir.
“Recently, the atmosphere that's been created means I get taunted all the time by being told I don't want to play for my country. Every two months, someone says something against me. Sometimes the bowling coach (Waqar Younis) says Amir ditched us, sometimes I'm told my workload is unsatisfactory. Enough is enough.”


Pakistan U19 to open tri-series against Afghanistan on Saturday in Zimbabwe

Updated 26 December 2025
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Pakistan U19 to open tri-series against Afghanistan on Saturday in Zimbabwe

  • Pakistan enter the tournament as U19 Asia Cup champions after beating India by 191 runs in Dubai
  • The tri-series is seen as key preparation for next month’s U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s under-19 cricket team will begin their tri-series campaign against Afghanistan on Saturday in Harare, using the tournament as a key preparation for next month’s ICC Men’s U19 World Cup co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Pakistan, the reigning ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup champions, are competing in the 50-over tri-series alongside Afghanistan and hosts Zimbabwe, with each team playing the others twice before the top two advance to the final on Jan. 6.

Pakistan won the eight-team Asia Cup in Dubai earlier this month, beating India by 191 runs in the final, and will play a minimum of four matches in the tri-series, starting at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

“The Asia Cup was a good win for us and the players showed great morale and intensity,” Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf said, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “The tri-series is very important for the players and will help us find the right combinations ahead of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup.”

Pakistan will face Zimbabwe on Dec. 29 before meeting Afghanistan again on Jan. 2, followed by a second match against the hosts on Jan. 4. Matches will be played across venues in Harare, including Harare Sports Club, Prince Edward School and Sunrise Sports Club.

The tri-series is being seen as an important warm-up ahead of the U19 World Cup, which will be held from Jan. 15 to Feb. 6. Pakistan are placed in Group C and will play all their group-stage matches in Harare.

“The conditions here are similar and will be beneficial for our World Cup preparations,” Yousaf said. “Both teams in the tournament are strong and competitive and we respect every opposition as we look forward to a competitive event.”

Pakistan will open their World Cup campaign against England on Jan. 16, followed by matches against Scotland and Zimbabwe, with the Super Six stage beginning on Jan. 25 and the final scheduled for Feb. 6 at Harare Sports Club.