Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif believes Mohammad Amir’s decision to retire from international cricket was impulsive and a wrong one. But he admits that Pakistan’s current team management has not handled him properly and as a result, they lost a match-winner.
While announcing his decision to retire from international cricket, Mohammad Amir revealed that he was being mentally tortured by the management. He blamed them that they had misled media and showcased that he had taken Test retirement decision to play in the franchise league.
Asif believes that both the Pakistan Cricket Board and Mohammad Amir himself are to be blamed for how the latter’s international’s career panned out.
“The PCB showed a lot of faith in him and gave him a lot of support after his ban, but recently they have shown a lack of flexibility in what they want from him. This has resulted in the current situation which could and should have been avoided for the sake of Pakistan cricket.”
Asif reckons that before proclaiming his desire to retire, Amir should have once reviewed his decision.
“I feel that Amir has been a little impetuous in making the decision that he has and should have thought this through a little better.”
Mohammad Amir at his best is still a match-winner: Mohammad Asif
Asif further added that Mohammad Amir had a lot to contribute to Pakistan cricket in the shorter formats. However, PCB’s uncompromising attitude made life difficult for the left-arm pacer.
“There is no doubt that Mohammad Amir at his best is still a match-winner. Amir made the decision to retire from Test cricket due to fitness concerns, which I feel were genuine. Instead of the Pakistan Cricket Board accepting that decision and utilising his skills in the shorter formats, they have now ended up losing him in all formats after their uncompromising attitude.”
“Despite the flaws in the current group of coaches and the team management I still believe that Mohammad Amir has made the wrong decision in retiring from international cricket.”
Mohammad Amir has represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is, claiming 259 wickets across formats.