Pakistani Cricketer Mohammad Amir announces retirement from Test Cricket at the age of 27
Pakistan’s fast bowler Mohammad Amir announced his retirement today from Test cricket with immediate effect. Twenty-seven-year-old Amir represented Pakistan in 36 test matches and took 119 wickets since his debut back in 2009. Amir reaffirmed his commitment to playing limited-overs cricket for Pakistan.
Amir said in a statement that It was an honor for him to represent Pakistan in the pinnacle and traditional format of the game. But he has decided to move away from the longer version so that he can concentrate on white-ball cricket.
He continued saying that playing for Pakistan remains his ultimate desire and objective, and he will try his best to be in the best physical shape to contribute in the team’s upcoming challenges, including next year’s ICC T20 World Cup.
It was not an easy decision for him to make and he had been thinking about this for some time. But with the ICC World Test Championship commencing shortly, and Pakistan boasting some very exciting young fast bowlers, he felt that it was appropriate that he called on his time in Test cricket so that the selectors can plan accordingly.
Amir said that he wanted to thank all his team-mates as well the opponents in red-ball cricket. It has been a privilege for him to play with and against them. He said that he was sure that their paths will continue to cross in limited-overs cricket “as all of us play and compete with the same vigor and determination. I also want to thank the PCB for providing me the opportunity to don the golden star on my chest. And, I am grateful to my coaches who have groomed me at various stages of my career.”
It is appropriate to mention that Amir was once regarded as the brightest prospect of the game until the notorious spot-fixing incident banned him for five years. At a test match against England in 2010, Amir was captured by a sting operation undertaken by News of the World about intentionally bowling no balls at Lords.
