Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who recently called time on his international cricket career at the age of 28, has slammed current head coach Misbah-Ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis for spoiling his image in public and with Pakistan cricket fans.
Amir in a candid video posted on his YouTube channel made it clear that his problem was with Misbah and Younis.
"These people have been trying to slowly poison people's minds by saying that I didn't want to play Test cricket and only wanted to play in T20 leagues to earn money. They built a narrative that I had let down the team despite all the investment in me," Amir said.
"They have tried to spoil my image and it takes a lot of hard work to build your image."
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Amir said that despite him making it clear that he was available for the ODIs and T20Is after retiring from Tests in 2019, the current team management ignored his candidature despite good performances.
"Obviously I was very hurt when they didn't select me even in 35 players for New Zealand. If I only cared about playing in leagues then I would not feel bad at being dropped for the New Zealand tour nor would I have reacted," he stated.
He also mentioned that the current management didn’t communicate with him directly and he only got news of his exclusion from social media.
"They say they have nothing personal against me, but they didn't have the courtesy to tell me directly as a senior player that they were dropping me or whether they had me in their plans. This is the way things are done.
What performances do they talk about... Since I came back I had a PSL hat trick, I bowled well in the Asia Cup and Champions Trophy, I was the highest wicket-taker in last year's World Cup despite playing with a shoulder problem. I am still in the ICC bowlers rankings. I have given performances in leagues. What more can I do?" Amir further stated his point.
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The player said he was surprised at how some people could be "judgmental" about his retirement from Test cricket "without knowing anything" about him.
"When did I say I would prefer playing in leagues instead of playing for Pakistan? But when you are not being selected in the national team what else can I do except go and play in leagues and prove myself to everyone. I have my self-respect and I can't compromise on that. I believe in giving respect, getting respect."
(PTI inputs)
