Mohammad Amir raking in the cash - vindicated in his retirement?

[Saj]

Well he's getting deal after deal around the world and that bank balance is certainly improving.

He still seems to be a much sought after cricketer in white-ball formats in various leagues around the globe, despite the stick he gets from some Pakistani fans.

Do you think his decision to retire from international cricket and concentrate on leagues around the world has been vindicated?

 

[MenInG]

Playing for Karachi Kings in PSL 6
Singed up for Kent for T20s
Signed up for London Spirit in The Hundred
Signed up for Barbados Tridents to play in CPL

All this - just in 2021!

Seems like financially speaking his move to leave international cricket is paying off!

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Not really, he's lost the fame and recognition international brings. Financially, he may not be getting as big or guaranteed contracts because he is not a big international star anymore.

 

[MenInG]

Not really, he's lost the fame and recognition international brings. Financially, he may not be getting as big or guaranteed contracts because he is not a big international star anymore.

If leagues are around, he will be guaranteed regular income until he calls it a day.

 

[Major]

He is a freelance cricketer, he will make a lot of money.

He gets paid alot for bowling 4 overs, thus it was obvious that the commitment level was less from him towards the national team.

What Amir wanted was get odis matches according to his choice. Meaning that ICC tournaments and England Australia, type areas.
Doesn't work that way.

He will make alot has a freelance cricketer. But once he retires he will find it hard to find himself a gig.

International cricket helps you in getting stable jobs like how Misbah, Younis and Inzi got. Even commentating gigs come your way like Ramazan and Waaseem have got.

You fight with the board, talk too much to the media, you are doomed.
Look at Shoaib Akhtar, guy cant get a job in the field of cricket and has to work for channels like PTV or make his own Youtube channel.

Amir will make short term gain, but dont see anything from him in the long term.

 

[Ab Fan]

If he gets eligible for IPL, then franchises will break the bank for him.

More so if he can learn to hit a few sixes too, he can bat afterall. Bowling all-rounders are anyways in huge demand, like Archer, Morris, Jamieson and Cummins.

 

[Zaz]

Not really, he's lost the fame and recognition international brings. Financially, he may not be getting as big or guaranteed contracts because he is not a big international star anymore.

This He may be earning more money but its at the cost of being called a legendary bowler which money cant buy

If you ask waqar or wasim we ll give you a £1m pounds but we ll take away your legendary status, wickets, MOMs, world cup performaces name etc would they accept?

No chance in hell Theyve gone down in pakistan cricketing folkore for what theyve done on the pich for pakistan They are what they are because of that

Thats priceless

 

[pratiktc]

Wasim and Waqar probably sold themselves for a lot less than 1million pounds.

It is their luck that those skeletons were buried in 90s and did not tarnish their legacies worse.

Wishing Amir best of luck. He has given some truly memorable moments in Pakistan shirt. Hopefully he will have an injury free career as a freelancer and earn respect and love of franchise fans also

 

[pakistani pride]

How much does he earn in these leauges?

 

[shujaatraza]

This He may be earning more money but its at the cost of being called a legendary bowler which money cant buy

If you ask waqar or wasim we ll give you a £1m pounds but we ll take away your legendary status, wickets, MOMs, world cup performaces name etc would they accept?

No chance in hell Theyve gone down in pakistan cricketing folkore for what theyve done on the pich for pakistan They are what they are because of that

Thats priceless

Lol not defending Amir here but you should have come up with better examples than Wasim and Waqar..

 

[shaz619]

If he gets eligible for IPL, then franchises will break the bank for him.

More so if he can learn to hit a few sixes too, he can bat afterall. Bowling all-rounders are anyways in huge demand, like Archer, Morris, Jamieson and Cummins.

Not sure why folk think he is certain to get British citizenship despite being convicted here....

Speaking of Amir’s batting, it is a little under rated but also something which had potential in the past

 

[Saj]

I suppose one way to look at it is, why break your back bowling 40 to 50 overs in the heat of UAE in a Test match, when you can make a fortune by bowling 4 overs a match every now and then.

However the other way to look at it is, you have denied yourself the opportunity to wear your country's colours ever again.

 

[shaz619]

Well he's getting deal after deal around the world and that bank balance is certainly improving.

He still seems to be a much sought after cricketer in white-ball formats in various leagues around the globe, despite the stick he gets from some Pakistani fans.

Do you think his decision to retire from international cricket and concentrate on leagues around the world has been vindicated?

From a financial stand point, he probably is vindicated.

He has already won the WT20 so what is there for him to achieve ? Pakistan under the current management can’t be the most appealing prospect given the lack of professionalism or shown the potential to be a world beating team.

Amir I reckon has eyes on the 2023 WC, perhaps the current management will be replaced before then, but Misbah understands how to work the system, it wouldn’t surprise me if he and Waqar weasel their way to that tournament

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

He’s still not making as much as he would by playing in IPL. I think IPL teams will ignore him because he’s a Pakistani after all

 

[daytrader]

He is a freelance cricketer, he will make a lot of money.

He gets paid alot for bowling 4 overs, thus it was obvious that the commitment level was less from him towards the national team.

What Amir wanted was get odis matches according to his choice. Meaning that ICC tournaments and England Australia, type areas.
Doesn't work that way.

He will make alot has a freelance cricketer. But once he retires he will find it hard to find himself a gig.

International cricket helps you in getting stable jobs like how Misbah, Younis and Inzi got. Even commentating gigs come your way like Ramazan and Waaseem have got.

You fight with the board, talk too much to the media, you are doomed.
Look at Shoaib Akhtar, guy cant get a job in the field of cricket and has to work for channels like PTV or make his own Youtube channel.

Amir will make short term gain, but dont see anything from him in the long term.

He'll have opportunities to get a long term gig in league cricket. Can possibly become a bowling coach for one the franchises once he retires. To do this though, he'll need to pit his entitled attitude aside and try to build a rapport with his employers. It requires him to learn a skillet aside from cricket. Let's see how he fares in a few years, best of luck to him

 

[Zaz]

Lol not defending Amir here but you should have come up with better examples than Wasim and Waqar..

Yes maybe they werent the best examples

But the point still stands The name standing and honour he couldve gained by playing for pakistan will never be gained playing in these t20 leagues

Was it worth it? Time will tell Im sure in 20 years he ll regret the choices he made

After all theres some things money cant buy

 

[Savak]

He would get loads of sponsorship, deals if he was consistently winning matches for his country, not to mention the adulation from the fans and stardom.

Dont think anyone will really care about what he does in Franchise Cricket

 

[Hasan123]

Amir retired due to issues with the management. So he is free to do what he wants. Not sure the need to bring up pay cheques when someone is doing his job .

Good luck to him.

 

[moghul]

Well he's getting deal after deal around the world and that bank balance is certainly improving.

He still seems to be a much sought after cricketer in white-ball formats in various leagues around the globe, despite the stick he gets from some Pakistani fans.

Do you think his decision to retire from international cricket and concentrate on leagues around the world has been vindicated?

Professional league pay only the players who would win matches for them and there is no bigger match winner bowler in Pakistan currently than Amir. Its Misbah's stupidity that we lost him for national team.

 

[Farabi]

Professional league pay only the players who would win matches for them and there is no bigger match winner bowler in Pakistan currently than Amir. Its Misbah's stupidity that we lost him for national team.

Yup financial compensation is a very reliable metric to judge how well sought after the player is. Hence the saying "put one's money where one's mouth is".

-In today's T20 cricket, Amir and Shaheen are "Top-Tail" fast bowlers i.e., bowlers who give you two overs at the top and then two overs at the death. This is currently a valuable combo.

-Early wickets in the PP for T20s are important to winning. The data shows that when a team bags three or more wickets in the powerplay, they win 70% of their games.

The list of players who participated in the draft of the inaugural edition of ‘The Hundred’ and outcome:


Picked:

No 1: Mohammad Amir was placed in the highest category amongst Pakistan players - draft at a reserve price of £100,000 --

No 2: Shadab Khan at a reserve price of £75,000.

No 3: Shaheen Shah Afridi at a reserve price of £60,000.


Unpicked in draft:


Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez at a reserve price of £75,000.

Usman Shinwari and Wahab Riaz along Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik and Faheem Ashraf at a reserve price of £60,000.

Mohammad Abbas, Asif Ali, and Imad Wasim at a reserve price of £50,000.

Umar Akmal, Hussain Talat, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali at the £40,000 bracket.


The draft also included players with no reserve price such as batsmen Iftikhar Ahmed, Kamran Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Mohammad Rizwan, Asad Shafiq, Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail, Imamul Haq, fast-bowlers Mir Hamza, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Sohail Tanvir, spinners Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Yasir Shah as well.

 

[Titan24]

Shahid Afridi if am not wrong is the richest Pakistani cricketer of recent times and he achieved that while playing for Pakistan till the end in white ball cricket.

Brand endorsements, ambassadorship, sponsorship etc. All play a huge role in any sportsmen’s career earnings. If I am not wrong Afridi earns more in one brand deal than Amir earns in any of these leagues (Anyone with actual numbers of Afridi’s endorsements and deals can correct me if I am wrong.

If Amir could have maintained a clean character without tarnishing his image again and again than I think he would have earned a lot more while playing for Pakistan, even would have extracted more value out of these deals.

Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi will accumulate much more financial wealth than Amir by the time they retire due to the very same factors which many usually ignore. Not to forget they will still be playing some leagues when they have a chance.

Amir even after his ban could have seen a substantial financial growth if he could have performed in his field (Cricket) for Pakistan and getting millions in endorsements, sponsorships etc while playing PSL and other leagues when he wasnt on international duty.

On face value and in very short term Amir’s decision might look decent for his financial side of the things but in the long run he would be far behind the international stars playing for Pakistan. I think he is trying to make the best he can as he knows his tarnished image which he only damaged further in recent times as he knows that with his current reputation not many brands would like to associate with him.

 

[Maher96]

I suppose one way to look at it is, why break your back bowling 40 to 50 overs in the heat of UAE in a Test match, when you can make a fortune by bowling 4 overs a match every now and then.

However the other way to look at it is, you have denied yourself the opportunity to wear your country's colours ever again.

There are no leagues in October.

Which series do we want him to play? We keep crying to try younger players. Aren’t these bi-lateral series best way. To get a win win.

You can’t say just because you have cheated once you now have got no choices of your own.

Guys had no interest so moved along taking a few kishtiya with him.

On paper no better 4 overs can be bowled other than Shaheen in the team. Want to win the T20. Take him in.

 

[Titan24]

No 1: Mohammad Amir was placed in the highest category amongst Pakistan players - draft at a reserve price of £100,000 --

No 2: Shadab Khan at a reserve price of £75,000.

No 3: Shaheen Shah Afridi at a reserve price of £60,000.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez at a reserve price of £75,000.

Babar had a reserve price of £100,000 along with other top stars of the world. He will not be available for the tournament and if he would have pushed would only have been available for few matches which plays a role.

Amir’s was picked in RD2 which is £80,000. Salary band for 2021 possibly went up a little as Amir wasnt part of the initial lost of players with £75,000 above.

 

[Farabi]

Shahid Afridi if am not wrong is the richest Pakistani cricketer of recent times and he achieved that while playing for Pakistan till the end in white ball cricket.

Brand endorsements, ambassadorship, sponsorship etc. All play a huge role in any sportsmen’s career earnings. If I am not wrong Afridi earns more in one brand deal than Amir earns in any of these leagues (Anyone with actual numbers of Afridi’s endorsements and deals can correct me if I am wrong.

If Amir could have maintained a clean character without tarnishing his image again and again than I think he would have earned a lot more while playing for Pakistan, even would have extracted more value out of these deals.

Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi will accumulate much more financial wealth than Amir by the time they retire due to the very same factors which many usually ignore. Not to forget they will still be playing some leagues when they have a chance.

Amir even after his ban could have seen a substantial financial growth if he could have performed in his field (Cricket) for Pakistan and getting millions in endorsements, sponsorships etc while playing PSL and other leagues when he wasnt on international duty.

On face value and in very short term Amir’s decision might look decent for his financial side of the things but in the long run he would be far behind the international stars playing for Pakistan. I think he is trying to make the best he can as he knows his tarnished image which he only damaged further in recent times as he knows that with his current reputation not many brands would like to associate with him.

Not if Amir lands an IPL deal soon lol

 

[Farabi]

Babar had a reserve price of £100,000 along with other top stars of the world. He will not be available for the tournament and if he would have pushed would only have been available for few matches which plays a role.

Amir’s was picked in RD2 which is £80,000. Salary band for 2021 possibly went up a little as Amir wasnt part of the initial lost of players with £75,000 above.

Yes, just re-checked that Babar was in 100k bracket. That is the speculation about Babar although the same could be said about Shaheen that he wont be available yet he was picked.
The point was that Amir was only 1 of the 3 players picked in the draft and was valued the most at a sought after league in Big 3

 

[Suleiman]

Reason most people are unhappy with Amir is because of the way he’s gone on to “retire”.

Instead of thanking his lucky stars to be playing again, he started moaning and complaining about the management and board, that could’ve just not given him the chance to play again after disgracing the nation. Everybody had to play under the same amateur management for about 20+ years now. He threatened to retire to strong arm the management to treat him better (from what it looks like).

I dont know, he seems to be acting like a diva about all this. I don’t have any problems with him quitting though, it’s the way he went about it.

 

[Snowflake]

All players have the right to retire from one format and focus on the other(s). Amir made the decision to retire from Test cricket, which was probably a selfish one, but it should not have been held against him at all. However, our vindictive management held a grudge against him and dropped him from white ball formats which wasn't justified. Amir, due to his own mistake, lost on a lot of money he could've made during his peak years, so it's not a surprise that he didn't sit around waiting for a change of heart from the management and decided to go his own route.

Amir is still better than most bowlers playing in our side, which means that the onus is on the management to answer tough questions; not on Amir.

 

[iniqbal223]

Again PCB will play a chasing game...as soon as Amir starts performing in other leagues;; PCB will be after him

 

[Tabishbeigh]

Amir was never a sincere lad, it was evident in that Aurthon interview. You can’t force an individual to represent his country. He is an individual and it’s quite alright if he wants to make a few easy bucks. He has his individual rights too. But at the same time this man should never be a part of the cricket set up post his heydays end. We must move on now, there have been so many betrayals .

 

[volcyz]

Very smart guy

Making great decisions that will set him for life.

 

[Kaddy]

He is a freelance cricketer, he will make a lot of money.

He gets paid alot for bowling 4 overs, thus it was obvious that the commitment level was less from him towards the national team.

What Amir wanted was get odis matches according to his choice. Meaning that ICC tournaments and England Australia, type areas.
Doesn't work that way.

He will make alot has a freelance cricketer. But once he retires he will find it hard to find himself a gig.

International cricket helps you in getting stable jobs like how Misbah, Younis and Inzi got. Even commentating gigs come your way like Ramazan and Waaseem have got.

You fight with the board, talk too much to the media, you are doomed.
Look at Shoaib Akhtar, guy cant get a job in the field of cricket and has to work for channels like PTV or make his own Youtube channel.

Amir will make short term gain, but dont see anything from him in the long term.

By the time of his retirement age, he'll have earned enough money. Moreover, if I am not wrong his wife is British and if by then he gets British nationality, who needs a job in PCB.

I don't think the reason for Shoaib Akhtar not getting a job is his bad relationships with PCB during 2004-09. Problem with Shoaib Akhtar is he talks too much, gives a lot of unnecessary statements and has a bad habit of leaking the inside information and stories. Nobody likes to have this type of employee.

 

[MK7Z]

Financially yes - great decision as he has been chasing the money since he was 18 years old.
"By any means necessary"

 

[zacattakk]

His main goal has always seemed to be making money. He will get selected for t20 league's as he established a reputation while playing for Pakistan. So I am sure he personally feels vindicated while signing T20 league contracts.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The people who stand vindicated here are those who said all along that Amir was in it for the money and wasn't that interested in putting in the hard yards on the international level.

I personally don't have a problem with guys becoming T20 mercenaries, its their personal choice. And Amir is ofcourse a very good T20 bowler which is why he is getting contracts in all these leagues. However I do have a problem with guys who try to project that were backed into a corner and had no choice but to become a T20 mercenary. Amir falls into that category. He still wants people to believe that it was Misbah who retired him.

 

[mastimasti]

Well he's getting deal after deal around the world and that bank balance is certainly improving.

He still seems to be a much sought after cricketer in white-ball formats in various leagues around the globe, despite the stick he gets from some Pakistani fans.

Do you think his decision to retire from international cricket and concentrate on leagues around the world has been vindicated?

Well he isn't the first to have done this.

Making money for a good white ball cricketer is pretty common these days, the legacy is what will lack in this still young man's career. Imagine if he had tried as hard in test cricket?

 

[moghul]

We all look for better job and earning opportunities with our skill and education, Amir is doing the same , what's wrong with that.

 

[Farabi]

We all look for better job and earning opportunities with our skill and education, Amir is doing the same , what's wrong with that.

Exactly, nobody here will give up a chance to make more cash with less effort. Pakistan's famed "brain drain" to get a foreign visa is not a secret.

 

[MK7Z]

We all look for better job and earning opportunities with our skill and education, Amir is doing the same , what's wrong with that.

1. We don't pretend that we are not.

2. Each to their own; however picking money over your country is something not many would do. I don't only mean the T20 LEAGUES......

 

[cricketjoshila]

What is the total earnings of Amir from the leagues this year?

If he gets a British Passport, he will be eligible for IPL as well.

Thats where he will make money, if he is picked, though many will still be hesitant due to his past fixing ban.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Reason most people are unhappy with Amir is because of the way he’s gone on to “retire”.

Instead of thanking his lucky stars to be playing again, he started moaning and complaining about the management and board, that could’ve just not given him the chance to play again after disgracing the nation. Everybody had to play under the same amateur management for about 20+ years now. He threatened to retire to strong arm the management to treat him better (from what it looks like).

I dont know, he seems to be acting like a diva about all this. I don’t have any problems with him quitting though, it’s the way he went about it.

100% agree with this. Pakistan board risked losing a lot of face backing this guy when he was caught fixing, at the time I thought he deserved another chance too. But he hasn't looked motivated since his comeback, so PCB should learn a lesson from that. No one is bigger than the game.

I don't begrudge him any money that he can earn either, everyone has to look after their financial interests. But only way back into the international team for him now would be him asking to be considered. He took it upon himself to retire, it's in his hands if he wants to change his mind.

 

[Saj]

What is the total earnings of Amir from the leagues this year?

If he gets a British Passport, he will be eligible for IPL as well.

Thats where he will make money, if he is picked, though many will still be hesitant due to his past fixing ban.

If he ever does want to play IPL, I think teams will want to sign him.

From what I've seen of the IPL, he could do a decent job.

I guess it all depends on when/if he qualifies.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

If he ever does want to play IPL, I think teams will want to sign him.

From what I've seen of the IPL, he could do a decent job.

I guess it all depends on when/if he qualifies.

Not sure it would be a good look for the IPL to bar legitimate Pakistan players and then okay the one who has been convicted of fixing. I'm sure he would be a huge success to be honest, but I just think it would give a poor impression of Indian standards.

 

[sshakir411]

I really don’t get the issue Pakistanis have with a person making money. What’s he supposed to do with his life? Obviously he’s not going to sit at home and not make a living. 4 tournaments in a year is nothing and if they are paying him well then good for him.

 

[Rajdeep]

One thing for sure - the theory that 18 year old innocent Amir was duped into fixing by crooked Butt has totally been debunked. The fact is Amir was always after money and is willing to do anything for it. He took the route of fixing back then and easy route of T20 leagues now.

On the lopside, PCB needs to increase the payment for its contracted players. I was reading somewhere that players like Babar is getting paid less than even South African and Srilankan captain. After India, cricket is most popular in Pakistan and PCB generates enough revenue to pay their players much more rather than pocketing most of it themselves. Otherwise there will be more Amir's or Asif's in future.

Patriotism, nationalism etc. sounds very good but it is money that drives the world. Infact, I am sure most (if not all) Pak players would prefer to play in IPL over PSL given a choice.
#Fact

 

[Titan24]

Not if Amir lands an IPL deal soon lol

Lol! Yes he can hope for that but, to be honest its a myth that everyone playing in IPL takes away tons of money. Million dollar deals are a rarity as there only few overseas players who get that sort of money. Amir gets somewhere between $170,000 to $240,000 from PSL itself. Even if Amir gets lucky for couple of years in IPL and supposedly falls in the top bracket still his net worth at the end of career would be pretty small in front of Afridi and even some other current stars who are expected to play for Pak in the next decade. If they (Babar, Shaheen etc.) can groom themselves like Afridi they can be making huge amounts in the endorsements in 2-5 years itself.

Yes if Amir can hit a jackpot and he gets a million dollar deal in IPL good for him but as mentioned its a rarity. He can get around $4-6,00,000 bracket though. Afridi has been earning more than this from his brand deals itself almost every year in the last decade or so.

Also not to forget Amir playing IPL doesnt have a big probability. Firstly I dont think he can play IPL while he is still eligible to play for Pakistan (Imad Wasim and few other have dual nationalities and they will never be considered in IPL just like they have never been). Azhar Mehmood was an exception and only got a contract when he spent enough time away from Pak colours and in Eng that he was probably even eligible to play for England as per ICC rules (Was pointless as he was 35,36). If I am not wrong itÂ’s somewhere between 3-5 years away from Pak colours that Amir would be eligible to play for any other country.

I cant imagine Amir playing IPL and then representing Pak the next month based upon his mood and ofcourse depending upon who is the head coach of Pak , so as far as Amir is eligible to play for Pak and not eligible for any other team I dont think he will be selected in an IPL team unless he gives some sort of a written guarantee or till he is 35-36 like Azhar where its almost a given he wont play for Pak.. Further IPL itself had couple of teams banned along with few players, so not sure if they would like to involve Amir due to his history.

 

[moghul]

i'm with Amir on his stands against Misbah the destroyer of Pakistan cricket over last decade.

 

[PakLFC]

That is why he retired from international Cricket. That it was due to the selection committee or the PCB was just an excuse.

 

[Manunited18]

Amir is a selfish Muppet, he should be thanking the PCB rather than spitting his dummy out, after all it was the PCB who have rebuilt this fixers reputation, as for the Pakistan team, in Shaheen Afridi they have a far better option.

 

[Golden arm]

He’s still not making as much as he would by playing in IPL. I think IPL teams will ignore him because he’s a Pakistani after all

IPL won't ignore him if he has British passport example azhar mahmood

 

[cricketjoshila]

IPL won't ignore him if he has British passport example azhar mahmood

And he doesn't play for Pakistan anymore.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

And he doesn't play for Pakistan anymore.

So it's more important that he doesn't play for Pakistan than him being a proven fixer?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I really don’t get the issue Pakistanis have with a person making money. What’s he supposed to do with his life? Obviously he’s not going to sit at home and not make a living. 4 tournaments in a year is nothing and if they are paying him well then good for him.

I don't think Pakistanis issue is him earning money, it's that he's perceived as not having much commitment to the Pakistan team despite being shown more support than he deserved by the PCB when the rest of the cricket world wanted him banned for life.

 

[cricketerB94]

I don't think Pakistanis issue is him earning money, it's that he's perceived as not having much commitment to the Pakistan team despite being shown more support than he deserved by the PCB when the rest of the cricket world wanted him banned for life.

I am not an Amir fan, but this is a wrong assumption that PCB supported Amir to come back. They did not support him, they needed him. Before Amir's comeback, our regular bowlers were Wahab, Rahat, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti. Amir shown his quality in BPL before he was included in Pakistan team. Amir came back in 2016, Hasan Ali emerged in 2017 and Shaheen emerged in 2019.

So, it's more like PCB used Amir when they needed him and when they had no one else, but when they had better alternatives in Shaheen and Hasan, they started to sideline him even from limited overs cricket.

 

[MesonK]

He should be forgotten now

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I am not an Amir fan, but this is a wrong assumption that PCB supported Amir to come back. They did not support him, they needed him. Before Amir's comeback, our regular bowlers were Wahab, Rahat, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti. Amir shown his quality in BPL before he was included in Pakistan team. Amir came back in 2016, Hasan Ali emerged in 2017 and Shaheen emerged in 2019.

So, it's more like PCB used Amir when they needed him and when they had no one else, but when they had better alternatives in Shaheen and Hasan, they started to sideline him even from limited overs cricket.

I mean PCB tried to back him during the actual fixing accusations and trials, I seem to recall they were pushing for him to be allowed to play domestic cricket, but the ICC blocked this. Amir showed his quality during BPL, but he has shown it to much lesser degree in a Pakistan shirt. Maybe he has lost pace and control and just can't cut it at international level any more. PCB can't pick him unless he's earning his place, over the last few years his form has been sporadic at best. He's also shown a lack of desire and passion for the game. I think that can work in T20 leagues, but you need to be 100% committed to succeed in the white hot atmosphere of internationals.

I'm no fan of the PCB, but it's their job to pick players who have the hunger to succeed. That's not using them, it's doing their job.

 

[Bewal Express]

I am not an Amir fan, but this is a wrong assumption that PCB supported Amir to come back. They did not support him, they needed him. Before Amir's comeback, our regular bowlers were Wahab, Rahat, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti. Amir shown his quality in BPL before he was included in Pakistan team. Amir came back in 2016, Hasan Ali emerged in 2017 and Shaheen emerged in 2019.

So, it's more like PCB used Amir when they needed him and when they had no one else, but when they had better alternatives in Shaheen and Hasan, they started to sideline him even from limited overs cricket.

Lost his edge, turns up for the odd game. The PCB don't owe him anything. He needs to up his game.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Is money the only criterion? Whenever pakistan plays i watch but i dont watch every league game in which amir plays.

He is getting richer , good for him.

 

[Napa]

Amir gets somewhere between $170,000 to $240,000 from PSL itself.

For 2021 Amir has a Platinum contract from Karachi Kings which pays him PKR 2,30,44,000 = $148,500

https://www.sportingfree.com/cricket/psl-players-salaries/

Amir at his peak would have got a top IPL contract (which is about $2M), now I think he would at least get $1M.

 

[shamaan]

He should not play for Pakistan ever again.

 

[Napa]

He should not play for Pakistan ever again.

Give the guy a break. Yes, he was caught fixing but he was young and manipulated by seniors.

He is earning about 1/10th of what he would if he could play in the IPL, for no fault of his. He is not responsible for the fact that ISI decided to send a boatload of gunmen to Mumbai in 2008 denying Amir his chance to play in the IPL. He is just a player and he has reason to feel aggrieved.

How would you feel if you were paid 90% less than your worth?

 

[Snowflake]

1. We don't pretend that we are not.

2. Each to their own; however picking money over your country is something not many would do. I don't only mean the T20 LEAGUES......

He isn't pretending either.

When did he pick money over country? The country (read: this incompetent and petty management) dropped him from all formats. He can't sit home and do nothing.

 

[Snowflake]

Pakistani players get a lease of at least 2 years in a team, regardless of form, with a performance like the one that Amir gave in the WC. But the way Amir was discarded soon after the WC confirms that a different set of rules apply to him.

No one can deny that Misbah/Waqar has held a grudge against him and have kept him out of the team. Even with his so called mediocar numbers, he walks into our LOI side.

You cannot fault him for making money elsewhere while this incompetent management is in charge

 

[Titan24]

For 2021 Amir has a Platinum contract from Karachi Kings which pays him PKR 2,30,44,000 = $148,500

https://www.sportingfree.com/cricket/psl-players-salaries/

Amir at his peak would have got a top IPL contract (which is about $2M), now I think he would at least get $1M.

Its for this year when salaries were slashed due to covid (Now ranging from USD 130,000 to 170,000 in the platinum category. In previous (normal) years the salary bracket was 20-25% higher.

==

From a media report:

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to slash the players' salaries in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, sources said Friday, citing financial constraints due to the pandemic.

According to sources, the PCB will cut 20% to 25% from previous salary caps for the PSL 6.

The overall players’ budget for each team will be $950,00 (or PKR152,000,000) as compared to around $1.2m (around PKR184,000,000) from last year, sources said.

PSL 6 is tentatively proposed to kick start from February 20 to March 22, with only two cities, Karachi and Lahore, as its hosts. The final dates and venues for the series are yet to be approved.

However, the matches are set to be held behind closed doors, and players will be staying in a strict bio-secure bubble throughout the tournament.

According to sources, the salary cap for the topmost category in PSL — the platinum category is proposed to be between US$130,000 to US$170,000. Previously the platinum category players would get between US$ 147,000 to US$217,000.

Players in diamond categories for season six are likely to get around $60,000 to $85,000, while Gold category players get a maximum of $50,000 for the season.

Teams will have $50,000 for supplementary pick while another $30,000 for other commercial expenditure.

Each team will have 18 players in the squad consisting of three platinum, three diamond, three gold, 5 silver, two emerging, and two supplementary players.

 

[IAJ]

Seems like some people here have problems with him earning money. If he has retired from international cricket it is his decision, let him do what ever he wants and look for other talents representing the country.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Give the guy a break. Yes, he was caught fixing but he was young and manipulated by seniors.

He is earning about 1/10th of what he would if he could play in the IPL, for no fault of his. He is not responsible for the fact that ISI decided to send a boatload of gunmen to Mumbai in 2008 denying Amir his chance to play in the IPL. He is just a player and he has reason to feel aggrieved.

How would you feel if you were paid 90% less than your worth?

What has IPL got to do with whether he should play for Pakistan? I would have no problem with him going to IPL, although I would argue that Pakistani players who haven't a penchant for fixing matches would be better choices for IPL teams.

Nonetheless, given his relative lack of impact since his comeback in international cricket, he should not be picked for Pakistan until he himself declares he wants to fight for the shirt.

 

[street cricketer]

Well he had a choice to create a legacy and standing among the great Pakistani fast bowlers like Wasim, Waqar, etc. He relinquished it with his early retirement for money, which he's perfectly entitled to do so. You have to sacrifice one thing to get another, he sacrificed his cricketing legacy for financial security and he seems to have zero regrets about it. Don't think fans should either.

 

[Saj]

Did he do it for money?

Did he do it to prolong his career?

Did he do it for, as he said in his interview with PP, due to suffering mental stress?

Only he knows the answer to this.

 

[shaz619]

Well he had a choice to create a legacy and standing among the great Pakistani fast bowlers like Wasim, Waqar, etc. He relinquished it with his early retirement for money, which he's perfectly entitled to do so. You have to sacrifice one thing to get another, he sacrificed his cricketing legacy for financial security and he seems to have zero regrets about it. Don't think fans should either.

He is capable of big performances in high profile games and ICC events but beyond that, even if he were to continue I doubt he was ever going to compare to Wasim or Waqar, deep down a bowler also knows when they are done, and as far as Tests were concerned Amir I think was finished in terms of having a potentially ATG legacy

 

[shaz619]

Did he do it for money?

Did he do it to prolong his career?

Did he do it for, as he said in his interview with PP, due to suffering mental stress?

Only he knows the answer to this.

Combination of all those I reckon

 

[Ab Fan]

He knew he is not going to have a legacy of Imran, Wasim or Waqar and also it is not an easy job to keep bowling on those flat UAE wickets as the probability of great success is extremely low for a fast bowler. So, he decided to retire early, play leagues over international cricket and ensure financial security.

Anyways, that test average and ODI average was already down at 29-30 so the UAE matches weren't going to help his cause. Time for fans to move on.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Did he do it for money?

Did he do it to prolong his career?

Did he do it for, as he said in his interview with PP, due to suffering mental stress?

Only he knows the answer to this.

Money is a huge factor, I can guarantee that. After being away from cricket for 5 years, it's clear he didn't have the financial assets to at least sustain himself if some injury came about.

That's where his decision to retire from test cricket came from, the fact that if he got badly injured, he wouldn't have enough in the bank to see himself get through tough times.

Now, Pakistan doesn't have astronomically high salaries for the players, so if he's making about $50k per gig in any of these leagues, he'd happily take it and move along.

That's my guess.

 

[Napa]

What has IPL got to do with whether he should play for Pakistan? I would have no problem with him going to IPL, although I would argue that Pakistani players who haven't a penchant for fixing matches would be better choices for IPL teams.

Nonetheless, given his relative lack of impact since his comeback in international cricket, he should not be picked for Pakistan until he himself declares he wants to fight for the shirt.

The biggest game Pakistan played after his return was the CT final and he got Sharma, Kohli and Dhawan out, there is the biggest impact by any Pakistani bowler right there.

He also almost won the game for Pakistan when they were defending 83 against India in the Asia Cup.

Pakistani bowling has been rather weak since his return. At home it still works, but in places like Australia it has been slaughtered. Amir has been the most dangerous looking Pakistani bowler. Hasan Ali and Shaheen are the next best two, but he is better than them when he plays with any sort of interest.

It is true that he doesn't have the fitness to play Tests, and he is probably saving his body for LOIs where he can earn a bit of money and provide for his family's future.

 

[Gilly]

Could this impact on current Pak cricketers, if they see Amir earning more money than them it may induce others to follow the same path.

 

[Napa]

Money is a huge factor, I can guarantee that. After being away from cricket for 5 years, it's clear he didn't have the financial assets to at least sustain himself if some injury came about.

That's where his decision to retire from test cricket came from, the fact that if he got badly injured, he wouldn't have enough in the bank to see himself get through tough times.

Now, Pakistan doesn't have astronomically high salaries for the players, so if he's making about $50k per gig in any of these leagues, he'd happily take it and move along.

That's my guess.

Can't blame him for playing for money. He has to provide for his family's future, and he doesn't seem to be the kind of guy who will do enough politics to get coaching jobs with PCB in the future. He needs to earn whatever he can in the few years he is still fit enough to play LOIs.

 

[Napa]

Could this impact on current Pak cricketers, if they see Amir earning more money than them it may induce others to follow the same path.

They don't really have Amir's talent, so they won't be able to make the same money in the T20 leagues.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The biggest game Pakistan played after his return was the CT final and he got Sharma, Kohli and Dhawan out, there is the biggest impact by any Pakistani bowler right there.

He also almost won the game for Pakistan when they were defending 83 against India in the Asia Cup.

Pakistani bowling has been rather weak since his return. At home it still works, but in places like Australia it has been slaughtered. Amir has been the most dangerous looking Pakistani bowler. Hasan Ali and Shaheen are the next best two, but he is better than them when he plays with any sort of interest.

It is true that he doesn't have the fitness to play Tests, and he is probably saving his body for LOIs where he can earn a bit of money and provide for his family's future.

I think that is the issue right there in bold. Pakistan can't afford to pick players who bowl only when they are feeling it. No doubt he can be a fine bowler on his day, but those are coming sporadically in a green shirt. If he really wanted to play for Pakistan it wouldn't be hard to persuade the selectors.

 

[Saj]

Could this impact on current Pak cricketers, if they see Amir earning more money than them it may induce others to follow the same path.

Absolutely, I know of a couple of players who are already thinking about doing this and watching how the next few months go for them.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Can't blame him for playing for money. He has to provide for his family's future, and he doesn't seem to be the kind of guy who will do enough politics to get coaching jobs with PCB in the future. He needs to earn whatever he can in the few years he is still fit enough to play LOIs.

I agree, he has to provide for his family as well, so these leagues are a good way of doing that.

The big question is if he could have shown a bit more sensibility and played for Pakistan alongside these T20 leagues.

 

[Napa]

I agree, he has to provide for his family as well, so these leagues are a good way of doing that.

The big question is if he could have shown a bit more sensibility and played for Pakistan alongside these T20 leagues.

Yes, he could have played for Pakistan also. However, people like Amir who have exceptional talent often feel (rightly or wrongly) that they are not being given due respect, which I assume is the reason for his animosity towards the current management team.

 

[Napa]

I think that is the issue right there in bold. Pakistan can't afford to pick players who bowl only when they are feeling it. No doubt he can be a fine bowler on his day, but those are coming sporadically in a green shirt. If he really wanted to play for Pakistan it wouldn't be hard to persuade the selectors.

He gets motivated when he plays India, and that often costs India... so I can't say I am too unhappy with his current reluctance to play for Pakistan

Jokes apart, his career has been a tragedy. I have never seen a bowler dominate the vaunted Indian batting order they way he did that day in the Asia Cup defending a total of 83 (or at least till 6 months ago when Hazelwood and Cummins demolished India). What a legend he may have been if it were not for many unfortunate decisions and circumstances!