Pakistan speedster Mohammad Amir on Thursday (December 17) stunned the cricket world with his sudden announcement of retirement from international cricket citing “immense mental torture from 2010 to 2015 by the national team management.”
The 2009 T20 World Cup and 2017 ICC Champions Trophy winner represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is, and managed a total of 259 international wickets. He last played for Pakistan came in the T20I series against England in August earlier this year.
The 28-year-old, who had been left out of PCB's central contract list earlier this year, was recently in Sri Lanka to play in the inaugural Lanka Premier League for the runners-up Galle Gladiators.
Amir said in an interview with Samaa TV: “The sort of environment that has been created … I don’t think I can play cricket under this management. I am quitting cricket as I am being tortured mentally. I don’t think I can take this anymore because I bore immense torture from 2010 to 2015.”
Reacting to Amir’s Shocking international retirement at just 28, former Pakistan cricketer-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja has expressed his utter disappointment with the left-arm pacer’s decision while saying the country lost a potential superstar.
Citing Amir’s example, the 58-year-old advised the youngsters that wealth should not be mistaken for respect, saying they should not chase money and not the fleshiness of its money, instead of respect their talent and responsibilities and win respect by playing for the country.
Raja wrote on Twitter: “Mohammad Amir retires. The sad untimely exit of a potential superstar! And a lesson for aspiring youth: Respect your talent and understand your responsibilities. Don’t mistake wealth for respect. Respect is earned by having a strong character and not by worldly glitzy shit!”
