Amir Retires From International Cricket and Secures British Citizenship
Thirty-four-year-old Amir has announced his retirement from international cricket on December 14, 2024. He has also obtained British citizenship through his wife, Narjis Khan, effectively ending his chapter with Pakistan.
On December 14, 2024, thirty-four-year-old Amir officially announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing a definitive close to his storied career representing Pakistan on the global stage. Having first made his international debut back in 2009, Amir quickly established himself as a formidable talent, notably forming part of the triumphant Pakistan squad that lifted the T20 World Cup trophy that same year.
Alongside his retirement from international competition, Amir has successfully acquired British citizenship and secured a British passport through his wife, Narjis Khan. This significant personal milestone enables the veteran fast bowler to transition into a new phase of his professional playing career, aligning his residency status with upcoming opportunities in the United Kingdom.
Elaborating on the implications of his new status regarding domestic cricket, Amir explained the regulatory requirements involved in domestic competitions. He stated, 'I am now a British local player. To play as a local player in competitions like the County Championship and The Hundred, you have to sign a document which states that as a local player you cannot play for any other country. Therefore, my previous chapter with Pakistan has now come to an end.'
Throughout his extensive international career across all three formats of the game, Amir accumulated impressive statistics that underscore his impact on the field. The bowler claimed a total of 119 wickets across 36 Test matches, 81 wickets in 61 One Day Internationals, and 71 wickets in 62 Twenty20 internationals for his country.
Among his most notable performances on the world stage was his standout display during the 2019 One Day International World Cup. During that tournament, Amir delivered a stellar performance by taking 17 wickets across eight matches, further solidifying his reputation as a premier pace bowler in high-stakes international encounters.
With his transition to a British local player finalized, Amir is now poised to focus entirely on domestic circuit opportunities, including prominent tournaments such as the County Championship, The Hundred, and the Pakistan Super League (PSL), moving forward without any international commitments to the Pakistan national team.
