Islamabad: Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir to play in the IPL 2024, “if there is opportunity”: Former Pakistani World Cup-winning bowler, Mohammad Amir says he has plans to play and feature in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in India. His statement has come after three years of international retirement for Pakistan.
Notably, Pakistani players are restricted to play in the Tata IPL due to the long-standing political issues between the two countries. The only IPL season Pakistan played was in 2008 when the league started in India. Since then, the BCCI have banned Pakistan from the gala tournament.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Amir, who took his international retirement in 2020, is living in the UK with his family for about three years and is now set to get citizenship of the European nation in 2024. Since Amir will no longer be a citizen of Pakistan after getting his British citizenship, he automatically becomes eligible to play in the IPL.
In his latest interview with ARY news, Mohammad Amir said his chances of playing for England’s national side are nil as he has played for Pakistan, but he kept the IPL doors open for himself.
“First, I will not play for England. I have played for Pakistan. Second (talking of IPL), there is one more year to go. What will be the scenario at that time….I always say that I go step by step. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow and I start thinking about playing IPL in 2024,” said Amir.
He further mentioned that he will explore the best options for himself upon getting UK citizenship in 2024.
“When I get my passport …whatever the best opportunity will be and what I will get…I will avail it,” added Amir.
Should Amir successfully get the British passport and register for IPL 2024 and subsequently get picked by one of the 10 franchises, he will get himself into the elite list of Pakistani players, who have had the taste of ever competitive Indian Premier League.
Notably, Azhar Mahmood, the former Pakistan all-rounder, did manage to play in the IPL even after BCCI’s call to ban Pakistan citizens from the league after 2008. All this could happen because Mahmood received his UK Passport, which effectively made him eligible for IPL participation.
Azhar was picked by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) during the IPL 2012 auction for a handsome check of $200,000. He was retained by the franchise in the next season as well following his encouraging performance in the IPL 2012, which saw him pick 14 wickets and score 186 runs.
Touted as one of the best pacers Pakistan ever produced, Mohammad Amir was going from strength to strength until he was caught involved in a spot-fixing scandal in 2011. The apex cricket body then banned Amir and others involved for five years from playing international cricket. He made his return to cricket in 2016, but couldn’t get his shine back.
Ultimately, he announced his test retirement in 2019 and then dropped a bombshell to bid adieu from international cricket citing mental torture in 2020. As things stand, Mohammad Amir continues to give his services in various cricket leagues across the globe.
