'He Does Not Want to Start From Scratch Again': Hafeez Reveals Conversation With Amir on Potential U-turn From Retirement

Mohammad Hafeez, Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, has revealed that he called Mohammad Amir for a possible retirement U-turn but the paceman refused the offer and told him that he has moved on. Amir announced his retirement from international cricket in 2020 after citing unjust treatment by the team management. The left-arm seamer has been playing franchise leagues around the world after quitting the Pakistan team.

Last year, Amir stated that he might make a comeback to the Pakistan team after Ramiz Raja’s tenure as the PCB chief.

However, Hafeez’s revelation has almost made it clear that Amir’s international career is over.

“I called Amir, I told that if he wanted to play for Pakistan, he has to first take his retirement back. ‘Go back to domestic cricket and perform. Then, the selection committee will assess your performances and select you. Once you return to Pakistan, I will assure that you will get equal opportunities’, I told him. He said he had already moved on. He believes his priorities has changed, his life has changed. And we have to respect his decision,” said Hafeez in a press conference.

Hafeez, who became the Pakistan team’s director after it’s dismal show in the ODI World Cup, said that they have to respect Amir’s decision to play franchise league cricket only.

“He told me he feels better playing at international leagues. He does not want to start from scratch again. That is his decision, and we have to respect that,” he added.

Amir, whose career suffered majorly due to his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal of 2010 and then later injuries and dip in form, took a surprise decision to retire from international cricket in 2020 claiming mental torture.

The 31-year-old arrived on the international stage with a lot of promise and was once hyped as the next big thing in Pakistan cricket before his career took a turn for the worst.

The 31-year-old fast bowler represented Pakistan in 36 Test matches and has played 61 ODIs and 50 T20Is as well. He has 119 Test wickets to his credit and owns 81 and 59 scalps in ODIs and T20Is, respectively. He last played for Pakistan in a T20I match against England in Manchester in 2020.