Mohammad Amir

At one point, Mohammad Amir was the hottest commodity in world cricket. He was first spotted by former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, who believed that the former was way more mature than his peers at the age of 18.

Amir made his first-class debut in 2008 and was impressive in his very first season. The speedster consistently clocked over 145 km/h and finished his maiden domestic season with 55 wickets to his name. 

Selectors couldn't ignore his performances and Amir was drafted into the Pakistan squad for the 2009 T20 World Cup. He played in all the matches and bowled with pace, accuracy and courage. Amir was at his menacing best in the finals against Sri Lanka. His opening spell to Tillakaratne Dilshan will forever be etched in the memories of the Pakistani fans, as the left-armer dismissed the in-form Dilshan for a 5-ball duck in his very first over.

Amir’s stock rose in the away Test series against Australia and England. The swing bowler grabbed his maiden fifer against Australia at the MCG in 2009 and took a particular liking towards the Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting as he continuously troubled the veteran with his pace bowling. 

In the away Test series against England in 2010, Amir etched his name on the Lord’s honours board after taking 6 for 84 in the fourth Test match of the series, but it was the beginning of a torrid time for the fast bowler. 

In an investigation by the News of World Tabloid, it was revealed that Amir, alongside Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, were involved in spot-fixing, deliberately bowling no-balls in the Lord's Test in return for payment. 

In 2011, Amir was handed a five-year ban for conspiracy to cheat and accept corrupt payments.

Five years later, Amir made his comeback in the Pakistan ODI squad to face New Zealand. 

He was selected in the squad for the 2016 Asia Cup tournament, and Amir was at his menacing best against India, picking up 3 top-order wickets as the Indian batting order had no answer to his pace and swing.

He was again in the thick of the action against India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. Defending 338, Amir rattled the Indian top-order once again by picking up Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, which put the game out of India’s reach.

On December 17, 2020, Amir decided to retire from international cricket, but he continued playing franchise cricket.

He has played franchise cricket in the Pakistan Super League and in the Bangladesh Premier League. 

Amir was roped in by the London Spirit to play in the 2021 inaugural edition of the Hundreds. His hostile pace to go alongside his experience of playing in English conditions will benefit the Spirits. Amir’s ability to pick up wickets with the new ball is something that the opposition has to be careful about.

Just before the T20 World Cup 2024, Amir reversed his retirement decision and made a comeback to international cricket in the home series against New Zealand. He then played a few matches in Ireland and England ahead of the marquee event. 

The left-arm pacer made himself available for selection for the global event, which was scheduled to be played in the West Indies and the USA. The Pakistan selectors picked him in the 15-man squad.

(As of May 2024)