Pakistan’s T20I captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has hinted at the prospect of reuniting with former left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024.
During an X Spaces session, Shaheen expressed his openness to discussing Amir’s return to the national team, stating, “I will talk to Mohammad Amir if he’s available to come back for Pakistan once again. Amir and I bowled together after almost 5 years. It was a very good experience to bowl with him; our partnership was great.”
Amir, who retired from international cricket in 2020, had previously accused head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis of favoritism and injustice. Despite persistent pleas from fans to reconsider his retirement, Amir has remained steadfast in his decision, emphasizing his desire to move on from international cricket.
“At the moment, I have moved on. I have different things in my life to do,” Amir stated in a press conference. “For me, this debate is closed. After three years out, I don’t think it would be a sensible decision for me to come back. For now, at least.”
However, given Amir’s positive partnership with Shaheen Afridi and the approaching T20 World Cup, the door for the left-arm pacer’s return seems slightly ajar. The camaraderie between the two could introduce a dynamic dimension to Pakistan’s pace attack in the upcoming tournament.
Amir, with an impressive international career, featured in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is for Pakistan. His last international match was in 2020, and he played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s ICC T20 World Cup 2009 and ICC Champions Trophy 2017 victories.
While Amir has consistently expressed reluctance to return to the national team, the evolving cricket landscape and his strong bond with Shaheen Afridi create an intriguing subplot for a potential comeback, adding complexity to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign.
