Mohammad Amir retires from international cricket

Fast bowler Mohammad Amir has conveyed to the Pakistan Cricket Board his decision to retire from international cricket. A media release from the board revealed that the 28-year-old informed the PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan that "he has no desires or intentions of playing international cricket and as such, he should not be considered for future international matches."

Amir, who just wrapped up an impressive season of Lanka Premier League, has played 30 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is in his international career, picking up a total of 259 international wickets. His last appearance for Pakistan came in the T20I series against England in August earlier this year.

This decision, temporary or otherwise, draws the curtains on an intriguing career of two parts. Amir began as the prodigious talent who as a 17-year-old turned heads when he took 55 wickets for National Bank of Pakistan in his debut season. Amidst constant comparisons to bowling legend Wasim Akram, Amir was fast-tracked into Pakistan's 2009 T20 World Cup side, where he made his debut for Pakistan in a T20I against England. He would go on to deliver a crucial burst in the final against Sri Lanka as Pakistan claimed the title.

After a sparkling start even in the Test format, his career went downhill after he was found guilty of spot-fixing and was banned for five years. He made his international comeback in 2015 and went on to play an instrumental role in Pakistan's Champions Trophy triumph of 2017. He was also the side's leading wicket-taker at the 2019 World Cup where Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinals despite wins over both of the eventual finalists, England and New Zealand, at the group stages.

Incidentally, Amir retired from Test cricket in July last year in order to focus on white-ball cricket, a decision that was subsequently slammed by then Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis who felt his team was shortchanged by Amir's decision on the tour of Australia.