'If he takes his retirement back' - PCB Chief backs former Pakistan fast bowler to come out of retirement

Najam Sethi (Source: Twitter)

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Najam Sethi recently allowed fast bowler Mohammad Amir to train at the National High-Performance Centre. Now, he has once again backed the former pacer saying that Amir can make a return to Pakistan Cricket Team as he has completed his penalty time.

The 30-year-old pacer had announced his retirement from international cricket back in 2020 as a protest against the unfair treatment by the then PCB management. However after the former PCB chief Ramiz raja was shown the exit door by the new government, Amir has received a lot of support from Sethi.

In a recent interaction with the media, Sethi said, "Mohammad Amir can play international cricket for Pakistan if he takes his retirement back. I always took a strong stance against match-fixing. I believe no convicted player should be spared, but at the same time, a player should be allowed to resume international cricket once he has completed his years of penalty."

Earlier, former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-Ul-Haq also came in support of Amir and stated, "Mohammad Amir is a good player, no doubt. If his fitness is good and if he wants to play and does well at domestic circuit, then he should be considered for national selection for sure."

Mohammad Amir was banned from international cricket due to spot fixing

Earlier, Amir received a ban from international cricket for his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal in England in 2010. He had told the media that he has not yet decided when to come out of retirement but sources close to him said the pacer only wants to play in white-ball formats for Pakistan and is not eyeing a return to Test cricket.

The left-arm pacer made his international debut in 2009 against England. After which, he went on to play 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is for Pakistan. Currently, he is playing for the Sylhet Strikers in the ongoing edition of the Bangladesh Premier League. Amir has picked 119 wickets in Tests 81 in ODIs and 59 in T20Is. Apart from his bowling heroics, he also holds the record for the highest score by a number 11 batter in ODIs of 58.