Former Pakistani cricketers have expressed shock and disappointment on iconic fast bowler Mohammad Amir’s announcement for retirement from Test cricket. They believe that when it was time for Amir to pay back to the nation, for their support in making a come back after five years of punishment for spot fixing, but he has let them down. The senior former cricketers said that it was too early for him to retire.
Amir had said it was an honour to represent the country in the traditional format of the game. However, he said, he had decided to focus on shorter formats of it now.
The King of Swing, legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram amazement over the announcement saying it was his time to shine and strike in the ultimate format of the game, Test. He said Pakistan would need him in two upcoming Test series.
“To me Mohammad Amir retiring from Test cricket is a bit surprising because you peak at 27-28 and Test cricket is where you are judged against the best, it’s the ultimate format. Pakistan will need him in two Tests in Australia and then three in England,” Wasim Akram wrote on his retirement.
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Commentator and former player Ramiz Raja said Amir’s decision was not in line with the needs of Pakistan cricket. He said it was time for Amir to repay and not to eject when Pakistan were desperately looking to reboot Test cricket.
“Amir white-flagging Test cricket at 27 is disappointing. Besides being dismissive of the greatest format that makes stars and legends his decision is clearly not in in line with the needs of Pakistan cricket which is desperately looking to reboot test cricket. Was time to repay and not eject,” he said.
Pindi Express, the fastest bowler of Pakistan, Shoaib Akhtar has expressed fear that Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz may follow suit and announce retirement from Test cricket. He said it was not Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga who retired from Test form, but it was a 27-year-old Pakistani bowler.
He said it was beyond his understanding that after he was brought into the international arena from spot fixing and now he was retiring. He said it was time to pay back but he announced to retire.
Akhtar said all the Pakistani fast bowlers wanted to play T20 only. They would find even one-day international as a long format, he added. He stressed that the Green Shirts needed Amir in Test series.
He requested to the Pakistan Cricket Board to look into this matter that why a 27-year-old player was retiring.
