Mohammad Amir after retirement: 'Couldn't handle this PCB management anymore'

Days after announcing his decision to retire from international cricket, Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir opened up on the reason as to why he chose to take this decision at the age of 28.

Earlier this week, a video went viral in which Amir was seen saying that he has chosen to retire from international cricket as he is not able to handle the mental torture he has been subjected to by the current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management and some former Pakistan players. Later, the PCB confirmed that Amir has indeed retired from international cricket.

Amir has now clarified that his decision to retire was not based on him being dropped for the New Zealand series, rather it was based on how some members of the PCB management kept on going about his decision to not play Test cricket.

"The issue started when I announced my retirement from Test cricket. All was fine after the 2019 World Cup, then-coach Mickey Arthur was fine with it and he understood the decision. However, some members in the PCB management once they took charge selected me for white-ball leg, and we even went to Australia, but when Pakistan lost the Test series there, the head coach and bowling coach started giving statements against me not playing Tests, some PCB management members said that Amir ditched us, they said I left Test cricket for T20 leagues. I was handling it for one year," said Amir on his official YouTube channel.

"I never said that I would not play ODIs and T20Is for Pakistan just because of T20 leagues, these members of PCB management kept on saying that I left Tests for T20 leagues and this proved crucial in destroying my image and people started talking about it. I am not weak, if I was I would have never been able to make a comeback after 2010. I do not have issues with Wasim Khan and Ehsan Mani, I just have a problem with the current PCB management who is dealing with the players," he added.

The 28-year-old left-armer also cleared the air regarding why he chose to play for Galle Gladiators in the Lanka Premier League. He also said that he got to know about his omission from the Pakistan squad through social media and there was no one who explained the reasons behind his exclusion for the series against New Zealand.

"When you dropped me for the New Zealand tour, I wanted to showcase my skills so Lanka Premier League was around the corner and I took the opportunity to play for Galle Gladiators. Haris Rauf came into the Pakistan team through Big Bash League. So as a player, this is what we can do, we can perform and make a comeback. In the current system, I get to know through social media that I have been dropped from the squad. You could have told me why you are dropping me, but you are sitting back and talking about Test cricket," said Amir.

"I wish the PCB management understood why I left Test cricket, I never left it for playing T20 leagues, it just frustrated me as to why the management kept on talking about me leaving Test cricket for T20 leagues. I have always wanted to play for Pakistan, I was available for two formats," he added.

The Pakistan pacer played 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is. Amir went on to take 259 wickets across three formats of the game. Amir had played his first international match during the 2009 T20 World Cup.

However, a big turning point came in 2010 as Amir was arrested for spot-fixing and he was given a five-year ban for bowling two deliberate no-balls in a Test match against England.

Last year, Amir had announced his retirement from Test cricket in order to focus on white-ball cricket. He called time on his career after playing just 36 Tests, in which he scalped 119 wickets.

In November this year, Amir was dropped from Pakistan's T20 squad for the three-match series against New Zealand. He was last seen in action in the Lanka Premier League and he represented Galle Gladiators.

(ANI)

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