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Mohammad Amir announces retirement from Test cricket

DHONI183

DHONI183

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Lahore, 26 July 2019:

Mohammad Amir today announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, but reaffirmed his commitment to playing white ball cricket for Pakistan.

In a statement, Amir said: “It has been an honour to represent Pakistan in the pinnacle and traditional format of the game. I, however, have decided to move away from the longer version so I can concentrate on white ball cricket.

“Playing for Pakistan remains my ultimate desire and objective, and I will try my best to be in the best physical shape to contribute in the team’s upcoming challenges, including next year’s ICC T20 World Cup.

“It has not been an easy decision to make and I have been thinking about this for some time. But with the ICC World Test Championship commencing shortly, and Pakistan boasting some very exciting young fast bowlers, it is appropriate that I call on my time in Test cricket so that the selectors can plan accordingly.

“I want to thank all my team-mates as well the opponents in red ball cricket. It has been a privilege to play with and against them. I am sure our paths will continue to cross in limited-overs cricket as all of us play and compete with the same vigour and determination.

“I also want to thank the PCB for providing me the opportunity to don the golden star on my chest. And, I am grateful to my coaches who have groomed me at various stages of my career.”

PCB Managing Director Wasim Khan said: “Amir has been one of the most exciting and talented left-arm fast bowlers in Test cricket in recent times. He overcame adversity as a young cricketer and came back stronger not only as a cricketer but also as a better human being. His skill, on the field, and his personality will be missed in the dressing room in the longer format.

“However, we respect his decision and look forward to him continuing to play an integral role in white ball cricket for Pakistan.”

Amir made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Galle in July 2009, he featured in 36 Tests, taking 119 wickets at an average of 30.47. His best bowling returns - six for 44 – were against the West Indies in Kingston in April 2017.
 
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If true this is good news. He needs to focus on ODIs. We need a calm head in the next WC. He would also be a good candidate to lead the white ball sides.
 
Doesn’t have the pace anymore to be a threat on flat test wickets. It’s okay, Naseem is coming soon anyway.
 
Could see it coming a mile away. This effectively makes Abbas our test spearhead, wonder who will come in Amir's place.
 
good news
eagerly awaiting shafiq and azhar ali to announce retirements.
but that will never happen
 
A very well timed decision. His test career has been nothing but ordinary. Will be remembered for the year of 2010, for good and bad reasons.

Time for Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mir Hamza and Naseem Shah to take over.

Aamir will still prove to be useful with the white ball.
 
Clearly his body can’t take the toll of all 3 formats. The guy hardly looks like an athlete anymore. The zip, pace and enthusiasm has declined pretty rapidly over that past few years.
 
So Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Shah Afridi to be our opening bowlers now?
 
This was always on the cards. Wise decision, though I still wanted him to be available for overseas Tests.
 
Should have carried on as an Outside Asia Only Specialist.

They really needed him with the Pink Ball in Adelaide and in England next year in World Test Championship matches.
 
Sad to hear! Personally I think he is the next ODI Captain and so to ensure he stays fit for most matches they've mutually agreed he no longer plays test cricket.

This paves the way for Sarfaraz to carry on as Test captain, and for him to be dropped from the ODI side, with potentially staying on as T20 captain to the WC - or Amir taking over that now too?!?!
 
It goes to show how strong the 70-00's generation were - constant gruelling test matches and ODI's and very few were specialist to one particular format!

Nowadays you have weaklings that play just T20s!
 
Sad but a sensible decision from his point of view as well. He has lost pace and is not that sharp anymore and I do feel his body is starting to give up already.

I will not be surprised if he retires even before the next CWC.
 
Not sure what to make of this.

Really he should have made himself available for all tests as he would be handy in Overseas tests and could have had a private dialogue with the PCB about his selection..
 
This is where you have to show respect to Wahab Riaz for his work ethic in 2015-2017. The guy was over 30, trying to run in day in day out on flat, placid tracks in the UAE and didnt give up even when he was dropped. Amir has basically bottled it at 25!
 
There goes his chance to be a Pakistani great in all formats.

I guess the rumours of him retiring from test cricket which were going around last year weren't baseless.
 
A sad day for Amir fans including me.

However it is also a wise decision, we need him at his best next year.

So this will give him time to get his pace back.

Thank you Amir for the wonderful memories.

Will never forget how Cook was your bunny in Tests.
 
He is a better red ball bowler then white. Understandable decision as white ball is attractive but performance wise he was better with the red ball.

Alistair Cook on BBC commentary thinks Amir might still play test cricket as Pakistan players do tend to change their mind very often when it comes to retirements.
 
Natsikap said:
Sad to hear! Personally I think he is the next ODI Captain and so to ensure he stays fit for most matches they've mutually agreed he no longer plays test cricket.

This paves the way for Sarfaraz to carry on as Test captain, and for him to be dropped from the ODI side, with potentially staying on as T20 captain to the WC - or Amir taking over that now too?!?!
Click to expand...

That doesn't make sense. Sarfraz has an awful record as test captain.
 
Yeah why try improve yourself in Test match cricket when you can jump on the T20 gravy train.
 
He has, but he's had tough conditions to work with, whilst bringing in youth after Misbah and Younis left.
With a much more settled team and balance in both bowling and batting, I think we will improve, as will his record as captain - and with the bat, ideally his style of play is suited to test cricket by sneaking singles. hurrying bowlers etc.
 
I'm afraid this decision of his will have impact on Pakistan young bowlers who may aim to become T20 specialists over test level which demands discipline and hard work.
 
In a way this is good for Pakistan cricket. Amir can now focus solely on T20s and ODIs in SENA conditions specifically. He can leave the donkey work to others and provide his best whenever he plays.
 
Disappointing considering he was given a second chance. Bet your bottom dollar he will be playing county cricket and other T20 leagues around the world. Money seems to his only motivation in life.
 
last 6 tests , 24 wickets @ 21.

He should have waited a bit longer before calling it a day.
 
this really shows the mentally of our team/players.

He is not a bits and pieces player who have limited abalites and can't perform in test. such a great talent gone to dust bin. with such mentally I am sure he will soon be out of T 20 and ODIs.
 
Junaids said:
Should have carried on as an Outside Asia Only Specialist.

They really needed him with the Pink Ball in Adelaide and in England next year in World Test Championship matches.
Click to expand...

Why spend so much energy and effort when you make significantly more money playing T20 cricket around the world and some ODI cricket (Pak plays less than 10 ODIs int he next year anf a half I think) . . So let's take the easy way out . . make money! chill! relax! let's not worry about skills and stamina and fitness . .
 
A sad day for Pakistan cricket.

Who would have guessed that he would retire so early after the way he started in test cricket...

After the come back he was never the same bowler... :(

Still, he should represent Pakistan in India in next world cup and win it :)
 
This is sad for various reasons,

1.At 27, Amir retiring from test means, he is not interested in keeping himself fit for 3 formats. Plus he wants to maximize earning from various T20 leagues.

2. It shows where the priorities of pakistan cricket lies. And it doesnt look good.

3.He really doesnot have the commitment anymore. Though i may be proved wrong here. But looks like he simply isnt interested in the grind.

4. This decision would have looked good if it was taken after 2023 WC when Amir would have been 31-32.

5. Now the pakistani bowling is the hands of a rookie SSA and 29 year old medium pacer who after the initial burst seems to have been found out.

6. The only good thing may be Pakistan giving some new tearaway(if available) chances.
 
All those comparisions to the GOAT Wasim Akram, and result is not even Bruce Reid
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you PCB, our PM <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/wasimakramlive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wasimakramlive</a> bhi <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SAfridiOfficial</a> bhi <a href="https://twitter.com/waqyounis99?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@waqyounis99</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/yousaf1788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@yousaf1788</a>. Thank you and my fans for always supporting me and I hope you all will support my this decision also.see video link <a href="https://t.co/BbAYzPbncl">https://t.co/BbAYzPbncl</a></p>— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamamirofficial/status/1154706183611191296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qIzlyrvJ6g8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Disappointing news. Hope he sticks with his decision though because we don't want constant U-turns like our players of the past. Hopefully we can try and find a new fast bowler who can help partner Abbas in tests. Maybe that could mean Shaheen now will become the premier fast bowler for Pakistan in tests.

Hopefully Amir can build on his form from the world cup now in ODIs and T20s because there is no doubt when on song he is a lethal bowler
 
JibranAnsari said:
last 6 tests , 24 wickets @ 21.

He should have waited a bit longer before calling it a day.
Click to expand...

Yes.

This is a really sad news. Disappointing and selfish decision.

You can't become a great without conquering the Test bowling arena.

Ater he's gone, he'll be forgotten in 2-3 years.

Major disappointment for his fans. He's our best bowler.
 
Now, he can be considered seriously for LO Captaincy.
 
Madplayer said:
True. Doesnt look like a 27 year old guy at all. His lack of stamina suggests that he is way past 30.
Click to expand...

Even if that’s true he’d only be 31 or 32 which is not old for test cricket these days. Look at what the likes of Anderson, Broad and Steyn have done in their 30s. Or going back a bit further the likes of Vaas and Zaheer Khan.
 
Retiring at the alleged age of 27 after only 36 Tests and despite a 5 year absence - enough said.
 
Saj said:
Retiring at the alleged age of 27 after only 36 Tests and despite a 5 year absence - enough said.
Click to expand...

It think rather than despite its due to that 5 years of absence from professional cricket didnt help his bowling muscles and overall body. When you are not used to bowling so many overs at a certain level and then suddenly start to play all 3 formats was always going to take its toll.
 
Shocked by this. He missed 5 years, didn't play that much, he's not even in his 30s.
 
Hopefully it will open the door for other bowlers who can then threaten his place in white ball teams as well.
 
So much for the claims to be the next Wasim Akram. I think Pakistan should move on from him
 
No way he would have retired from Tests if not for the 5 year ban. He hasn’t look the same Amir at all since his return to the game. The enthusiasm in him is dead and buried. He bowls like he is working a 9 to 6 job.
 
It's hard for him to get wickets in tests , though lately he was getting a bit better but one can imagine that the amount of expectations from him after his return and he probably misses the same old great bowler he once was.
 
In reality, Mohammad Amir was too short to succeed in Tests except with the Dukes Ball or in green conditions.

What is frustrating is that there are World Test Championship matches coming up in the next 18 months in Australia, England and New Zealand and there is no obvious alternative who can bat at Number 9 and bowl 20 overs per day.

It’s a selfish decision.
 
the big problem with such player's is when they are out of LO sides they start complaining of unfair treatment.
 
If Pakistan's home conditions were like England he would not have retired. However playing tests in UAE takes a toll on any bowler especially someone who couldn't develop his muscles because of ban. PCB seriously needs to move away from UAE otherwise more bowlers in future will go this way now that Amir has set precedence.
 
Natsikap said:
It goes to show how strong the 70-00's generation were - constant gruelling test matches and ODI's and very few were specialist to one particular format!

Nowadays you have weaklings that play just T20s!
Click to expand...

They just took their breaks on the field with half arsed fielding and running between wickets.
 
It was on the cards, there were rumblings of this last summer.

People may argue Amir should be fresh for the rigours of international cricket having spent six years on the sidelines. However as [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION] pointed out, those bowlers who are constantly on the treadmill of international cricket are better equipped to deal with the physical demands than someone who's spent a large chunk of his career banned.

Amir himself wasn't pulling up any trees in Tests since his ban. He performed in seam friendly conditions in England and South Africa in 2018 but was a passenger in UAE.

I expect this to pave the way for the recall of Wahab to Tests and maybe even the fast tracking of some of the younger fast bowlers like Musa or Hasnain.
 
Really disappointing from amir You dont become a legend by retiring from tests at 27 and after 5 years in the wilderness you wouldve thought his hunger to play as much test cricket as possible would be at its peak

Surely if workload was a issue he couldve skipped a odd test tour here and there or stopped playing these meaningless t20s but it looks like hes not in it for the hard yards but instead wants the quick money

His hunger and desire hasnt been the same since his return and his attitude over the last 2 years has also has been very disappointing

All that early years potential and those comparisons with wasim gone to dust What a waste
 
cricketjoshila said:
This is sad for various reasons,

1.At 27, Amir retiring from test means, he is not interested in keeping himself fit for 3 formats. Plus he wants to maximize earning from various T20 leagues.

2. It shows where the priorities of pakistan cricket lies. And it doesnt look good.

3.He really doesnot have the commitment anymore. Though i may be proved wrong here. But looks like he simply isnt interested in the grind.

4. This decision would have looked good if it was taken after 2023 WC when Amir would have been 31-32.

5. Now the pakistani bowling is the hands of a rookie SSA and 29 year old medium pacer who after the initial burst seems to have been found out.

6. The only good thing may be Pakistan giving some new tearaway(if available) chances.
Click to expand...

Very good post. I nominate POTW

Amir just doesn’t have the heart, work ethic and stamina for Test cricket. In fact it’s a problem with him that it seems he’s mentally checked out and not giving his best if it’s not high profile game
 
I don't agree with the decision, but I can see where he is coming from.

Look at the the best fast bowlers in the past 7-8 years or so.

Malinga, Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, Boult, Southee, Broad, Anderson, Steyn, and Morkel.

Malinga retired from Tests early. Now he is arguably the greatest white ball bowler of all time.

Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins only play around 40% of Australia's matches due to workload management and injuries.

Boult is the lone exception here, but NZ play the least cricket out of the 8 full members.

Broad, Anderson, and Southee don't play LOIs.

Steyn and Morkel have always been injury prone as well.

As for Amir, he has undoubtedly been Pakistan's best bowler in every format since 2016.

In Tests though, he has only been effective overseas. He has never been at full pace since his return. And he will not get it back by playing the amount of cricket that he has played in the last 3 years.

In LOIs he has been great, no doubt. And he had to figure out a way to manage his workload.

The best of Amir we have seen has been after he has been dropped for a couple of months. This means his body is not strong enough to play all formats.

If he had a decision to retire from either Tests or LOIs, he made the right one as a Pakistani.

Pakistan plays barely any Test cricket anyway. And I think it is a smart decision to retire which hopefully makes him a better one day bowler.
 
Bewal Express said:
I know people that went to school with him and were in the same class. They are around 31/32.
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Amir was picked at 11 years of age by Asif Bajwa he brought him with him and trained him. I am not sure which class you are referring to and which school he went in. As its highly unlikely that he said to Asif Bajwa his age was 11 and when he was admitted to school he said that I am 16.

I am not saying what his age is but before 11 years of age he was in a village and after that Asif Bajwa managed him and would be pretty surprising if he would have said to him 11 years old and in school that I am 16.
 
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Probably a blessing in disguise for us in all 3 formats. He was never amazing in tests especially on unsupportive pitches, and maybe this move will actually make him become a decent LOI bowler.
 
In one breath he says pinnacle for Tests, in the other he says I'm done with Tests.

A bit of a strange decision.
 
Saj said:
In one breath he says pinnacle for Tests, in the other he says I'm done with Tests.

A bit of a strange decision.
Click to expand...

I hope he makes a U-turn and comes back into the test team in a year or two. Looks short of confidence despite his wonderful bowling display at the WC.
 
Good for pak cricket
Now shaheen,abbas,naseem shah,Husnain can be exclusive test quadret
While
Hassan ali,musa,shinwari and ilyas can be t20 quadret
While
Amir,shaheen,hassan ali,musa can be ODI quadret
 
DHONI183 said:
Lahore, 26 July 2019:

Mohammad Amir today announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, but reaffirmed his commitment to playing white ball cricket for Pakistan.

In a statement, Amir said: “It has been an honour to represent Pakistan in the pinnacle and traditional format of the game. I, however, have decided to move away from the longer version so I can concentrate on white ball cricket.

“Playing for Pakistan remains my ultimate desire and objective, and I will try my best to be in the best physical shape to contribute in the team’s upcoming challenges, including next year’s ICC T20 World Cup.

“It has not been an easy decision to make and I have been thinking about this for some time. But with the ICC World Test Championship commencing shortly, and Pakistan boasting some very exciting young fast bowlers, it is appropriate that I call on my time in Test cricket so that the selectors can plan accordingly.

“I want to thank all my team-mates as well the opponents in red ball cricket. It has been a privilege to play with and against them. I am sure our paths will continue to cross in limited-overs cricket as all of us play and compete with the same vigour and determination.

“I also want to thank the PCB for providing me the opportunity to don the golden star on my chest. And, I am grateful to my coaches who have groomed me at various stages of my career.”

PCB Managing Director Wasim Khan said: “Amir has been one of the most exciting and talented left-arm fast bowlers in Test cricket in recent times. He overcame adversity as a young cricketer and came back stronger not only as a cricketer but also as a better human being. His skill, on the field, and his personality will be missed in the dressing room in the longer format.

“However, we respect his decision and look forward to him continuing to play an integral role in white ball cricket for Pakistan.”

Amir made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Galle in July 2009, he featured in 36 Tests, taking 119 wickets at an average of 30.47. His best bowling returns - six for 44 – were against the West Indies in Kingston in April 2017.
Click to expand...

Little bit Selfish of Mohd Amir. But good news for Wahab Riaz.
 
AdamM97 said:
I hope he makes a U-turn and comes back into the test team in a year or two. Looks short of confidence despite his wonderful bowling display at the WC.
Click to expand...

I hope he doesnt if his heart isnt in it, he shouldnt be playing . The last thing Pakistan needs is someone who going through the motions like he has been in tests over the last couple of yrs

Theres plenty of young players that would give an arm and a leg to play test cricket for pakistan unlike amir Hope one of them comes in and makes the position his
 
To those saying this is a workload decision are deluding themselves. This is a money decision, he would never have done this if Pakistani players were paid $100,000 per test matches, he is now going to play in all the T20 leagues around the world in addition to the psl, international t20's and odis for Pakistan.

His workload is not going to be any better, he will still burn out and fade out just like Lasith Malinga did
 
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