Former Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir reported on the challenges of playing back-to-back matches in the fast-paced International T20 League (ILT20). Amir admitted that there is no guarantee that his body will allow him to play every game in the ongoing ILT20 2025.
The left-arm pacer is currently representing the Desert Vipers in the ongoing ILT20 2025, where he has hit eight overs in two matches so far, claiming two wickets – both in a fiery opening spell. Amir, who played a key role in Pakistan’s historic Champions Trophy victory in 2017, has made it clear that his existence in the league depends entirely on his body.
Mohammad Amir reveals fitness struggles in fast-paced franchise leagues
He said every player is interested in him, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get injured. “Times of” reports that Mohammad Amir said this India: “Just because it’s cricket, it never guarantees that I’ll play all the matches; it is the fastest format and has back-to-back games. After all, we are human.”
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Notably, Amir retired from Test cricket in 2019 to manage his workload, and by the end of 2020 he was also out of white-ball cricket citing “mental torture” and “poor treatment” by the Pakistan team management. But his love for the game has led to a dramatic comeback for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
However, Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign ended in disappointment and just months after his comeback, the star pacer stunned his fans again by announcing his retirement from international cricket in December 2024.
Mohammad Amir reveals why he prefers leagues over international cricket
Thinking about his decision, Mohammad Amir feels that he has spent time in the international arena and said that now it is the youth’s turn to shine and take responsibility for the future of the team.
Amir further explained: “Actually, we have such good young players who are coming out and playing regularly now. It’s their time. I think that those who have to serve the country for 5-10 years have the right to fill that position. I made my debut in 2009 and it has been many years with international cricket. Now it’s time for young people to take it forward.”
He said he was demanding with a fiery tempo schedule forcing him to prefer franchise leagues over international cricket. Amir said his fitness was not an issue in white-ball cricket, but the constant grind of international and league cricket made things difficult for him. Pacer noted that every player has to manage their workload as they get older.
After doing everything, there is no guarantee that such an injury will not occur: Mohammad Amir
Mohammad Amir further explained, “I have never had any fitness issues in white ball cricket; sometimes maybe yes, only in longer formats. Rest is very limited due to constant back-to-back cricket, international cricket and league cricket. It’s getting really hard to manage all this. So then you have to pick and choose which format you can serve the most and where your body can get the rest it needs. This is what happens in the player’s mind.”
The Pakistani bowler emphasized that each player manages his own preparation and training, but injuries remain an unpredictable part of the game. Amir said, “Yes, as a professional, it is your duty to take care of your fitness, diet and training. We do it and we meet the requirements, but there is no guarantee that an injury will not occur.”
