Mohammad Amir takes indefinite break from international cricket, cites ‘mental torture’ by Pakistan Board

Mohammad Amir has dropped a bombshell as he revealed that he is taking a break from international cricket indefinitely. Mohammad Amir, who played for the Galle Gladiators in the Lanka Premier League 2020 tournament, is expected to issue a statement after returning to Pakistan. The left-arm pacer was omitted from the Pakistan cricket team for the three-match Twenty20 International series against New Zealand and this has apparently resulted in plenty of hurt and disappointment. Speaking to a sports portal in Pakistan, Mohammad Amir cited the ‘mental torture’ done by the Pakistan Cricket Board as the main reason why he cannot continue playing international cricket like this.

“Right now I am leaving cricket. I am being mentally tortured. I don’t think, I will be able to handle this kind of torture because I have been tortured a lot from 2010 to 2015,” Mohammad Amir said. The left-arm pacer made a comeback to international cricket after been banned for five years due to his role in the spot-fixing scandal during the 2010 Test at Lord’s versus England.

Test retirement misunderstood

However, it was his apparent retirement from Tests at a young age which saw plenty of flak been directed at him. During the 2019 tour of Australia, bowling coach Waqar Younis accused Mohammad Amir of ditching the team before the series and that was the prime reason why Pakistan were whitewashed for the fifth consecutive time after losing their 14^th consecutive Test in Australia.

Mohammad Amir clarified why he had retired from Tests. “My personal decision to leave Test cricket was taken in a wrong way. My retirement was attached to my desire of playing T20 leagues. I was wishing to invest everything in white-ball cricket for Pakistan. But every now and then some one or the other person came out with a statement. Our bowling coach came out and said, I ditched them, somebody says work load wasn’t properly handled,” Amir said.

Mohammad Amir performed well for Galle Gladiators in the Lanka Premier League, taking 11 wickets in 10 games at a slightly high average of 26.3. But, this sudden announcement is another sad chapter in Pakistan cricket.