New Delhi: Pakistan's Mohammad Amir made his much-awaited return to first-class cricket, two-and-a-half years after he announced the end of his international Test career in 2019. In 2022, he quit playing international cricket for Pakistan. The 30-year-old left-arm speedster made his shocking return to playing the longest format last week as he bowled for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club against Hampshire in England. Amir, who reportedly signed a three-match contract with the club, came in as a replacement for Naseem Shah. This question regarding Mohammad Aamir has become almost inevitable: Will he consider coming out of retirement?
"It is too early to talk about a Test return. You never know and things can be changed but for now I'm enjoying playing for Gloucestershire," Amir told the ECB Reporters Network.
Amir retired from Pakistan cricket at the age of 28 under some odd circumstances. He has taken 119 wickets in 36 Tests, 81 wickets in 61 ODIs and 59 wickets in 50 T20 matches. Since retirement, he has been playing in T20 leagues around the world.
In the year 2020, Amir announced his decision to quit playing international cricket for Pakistan citing 'mental torture'.
"I am leaving cricket for now because I'm being mentally tortured. I don't think I can bear such torture. I've borne lots of torture from 2010 to 2015, for which I served my time. I've been tortured by being told the PCB invested a lot in me. I'll just say two people invested in me a lot: [former PCB chairman] Najam Sethi and [former Pakistan captain] Shahid Afridi," Amir had told Samaa TV.
In his debut last week for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club against Surrey, Amir bowled a total of 28 overs but remained wicketless. He bowled 21 overs on Day 1's play against Hampshire this week and has so far taken three wickets in this competition; all those wickets have come from the old ball.