Mohammad Amir: “Both of us have played and performed in the PSL besides appearing regularly in other leagues. So what is wrong with selecting us for the T20 format?”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir has defended his and Imad Wasim’s selection in the T20I team, saying both of them performed in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Amir noted the PSL is Pakistan’s premier T20 competition and thus feels that he and left-arm spinner Imad deserve to be in the team.
In PSL 9, the 32-year-old took 10 wickets in nine matches for the Quetta Gladiators at an average of 28.60 and an economy rate of 8.41.
As for Imad, he finished with 12 wickets in 12 games for Islamabad United at an average of 20.91 and an economy rate of 6.60.
“There has been a lot of criticism by some people on me and Imad being selected without playing domestic cricket. I ask them what is Pakistan’s premier domestic T20 event? The PSL. And both of us have played and performed in the PSL besides appearing regularly in other leagues. So what is wrong with selecting us for the T20 format?” Amir was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“I myself have always said players must get experience in domestic first-class and other events to be considered for the national team. But in our case we are only playing T20 cricket and our form and fitness is there for all to see.”
Following PSL 9, both Amir and Imad reversed their decisions to retire from international cricket and made their comebacks in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, with the former taking three wickets in four games at an average of 28.66 and an economy rate of 8.32.
Imad, meanwhile, claimed one wicket in two games at an average of 37 and an economy rate of 7.40.
In the three-match T20I series against Ireland, Amir picked up two wickets in two games at an average of 38 and an economy rate of 9.50, while Imad took two wickets at an average of 36 and an economy rate of 7.20.
Next up for Pakistan will be four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.
After that, they will feature in the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies and United States of America from June 1 to 29.
Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan