Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir has confirmed his retirement from Test cricket at the age of 27. The left-armer, who took 17 wickets at the recent World Cup, will still play one-day and Twenty20 international cricket.
He made his Test debut aged 17 against Sri Lanka in 2009 but his career was tarnished after he was one of three Pakistan players to be jailed for bowling deliberate no-balls in a match against England in 2010.
Amir returned to Test cricket in 2016 after serving a five-year ban for spot-fixing but the Essex player has now decided to stop playing red-ball cricket. In a statement, he said: “It has been an honour to represent Pakistan in the pinnacle and traditional format of the game but I have decided to move away from the longer version, so I can concentrate on white-ball cricket.
“Playing for Pakistan remains my ultimate desire and objective and I will try my best to be in the best physical shape to contribute in the team’s upcoming challenges, including next year’s T20 World Cup.
“With the World Test Championship commencing shortly, and Pakistan boasting some very exciting young fast bowlers, it is appropriate that I call time in Test cricket so that the selectors can plan accordingly.”
