"Done Penance For That Big Mistake": Mohammad Amir Urges World To 'Move On' From Spot-Fixing Row
Mohammad Amir insisted that he is tired of former cricketers calling him out for his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal.
Fresh from making his comeback into the national side after a gap of three years and eight months, Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir is hungry to put on a show at the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas. Amir, who had announced his retirement from international cricket in 2020, took a u-turn from his decision in March 2024 and played for Pakistan in the T20I series against New Zealand. Amir's career has been marred with controversy, including his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal in England in 2010.
Amir was banned for 5 years by the International Cricket Council (ICC). After completing his ban, Amir made his comeback to the side in 2016, before helping them win the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017.
However, the 32-year-old insisted that he is tired of former cricketers calling him out for his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal.
"I have done penance for that big mistake and if you look at my career I was banned from 2010 to 2015 and took retirement from 2020 to 2024 so I have lost nine years but I accept it all as God's will and I have moved on," Amir told Pakistani journalist Hafiz Mohammad Imran on his YouTube channel.
After taking back his retirement, Amir returned to action during the second T20I against New Zealand last month. He took three wickets from four matches on his comeback with best figures of 2/13 in the second T20I.
However, his place in the team has been questioned by former cricketers, including ex-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja.
Amid criticism, Amir has suggested that he has been picked in the T20I side on the basis of his performances in Pakistan's premier domestic T20 competition the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
"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 (Imad) have played and performed in the PSL besides appearing regularly in other leagues. So what is wrong with selecting us for the T20 format?" he added.
Pakistan Cricket Team
Mohammad Amir