The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently unveiled their squad for the forthcoming ODI World Cup 2023, which is set to kick off on October 5 in India. The team, captained by Babar Azam, received a setback with the unfortunate absence of pace sensation Naseem Shah due to injury. In response, Pakistan called upon the seasoned fast bowler Hasan Ali to fill the void.
In a press conference to announce the team, former Pakistan captain and current chief selector of PCB, Inzamam-ul-Haq, took center stage to discuss the squad and answer questions from the media. One of the questions posed to Inzamam revolved around the possibility of senior pace bowler Mohammad Amir making a comeback to the national team.
Inzamam opines on Amir’s comeback possibility
Inzamam did not rule out the possibility of Amir’s return to the Pakistan team but outlined the steps required for such a comeback. He acknowledged Amir’s past contributions to Pakistani cricket and emphasized that, as of now, Amir had retired from international cricket. In order to be considered for a comeback, Inzamam stated that the left-arm pacer would need to participate in first-class cricket and deliver strong performances.
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“Amir has been a great cricketer. He has taken retirement. If he wants to play for Pakistan, he will have to play first-class cricket and perform there. If he performs, then he will definitely be considered. The selection door is not closed for any player,” Inzamam explained during the press conference.
Similar scenario for other players
Inzamam extended the same principle to other players like Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shan Masood, and Imad Wasim, indicating that the door to selection remains open for any player willing to put in the necessary effort and demonstrate their skills in domestic cricket.
“The same is the case for Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shan Masood, and Imad Wasim,” Inzamam added.
It is noteworthy that Amir announced his retirement from international cricket in 2020 but has remained active in franchise cricket. Currently, he is representing Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2023, where he has showcased his talent by being the third-highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps in 9 games.
