Mohammad Amir has registered for the Afghanistan Premier League draft as a British national, raising the possibility of registering for the IPL return. Having already featured in the T20 Blast and The Hundred as a UK national, Amir could follow the path taken by former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood.Mohammad Amir has registered for the Afghanistan Premier League drafts. (PTI Photo) Mohammad Amir could be eyeing a place in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after registering for the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) draft as a British national.
The former Pakistan fast bowler has entered the Platinum category for the draft, scheduled to be held in Dubai on Tuesday, November 3. His registration has also raised the possibility of him entering the IPL auction later this year.Amir, 34, currently lives in England and has acquired British citizenship.
He has been formally listed as a UK national for the APL draft. The left-arm fast bowler's decision to register under a different nationality is significant, particularly given his complicated relationship with Pakistan cricket.There is a possible advantage to this move.
By registering as a UK national, Amir will not require a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the same way as players registered under Pakistan's nationality. This could give him greater freedom to explore franchise cricket opportunities outside Pakistan.AMIR HAS ALREADY STARTED HIS JOURNEY AS UK NATIONALAmir has already begun his journey as a British national, having featured in England's domestic T20 competitions, the T20 Blast and The Hundred.
His registration for the Afghanistan league is another step towards establishing himself in the franchise circuit outside Pakistan. Amir had earlier made it clear that his relationship with Pakistan cricket was over.
The former Pakistan international retired from international cricket in 2024 after previously reversing his retirement in 2020. His latest move suggests that he is keen to continue playing franchise cricket on his own terms.More than 30 Pakistan players, including Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim, feature in the APL draft register.
However, a PCB spokesperson appeared to rule out the possibility of NOCs being issued to its players for the tournament.WILL IPL FOLLOW? AZHAR MAHMOOD OFFERS A PRECEDENT There is a precedent for Amir's potential IPL return.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood played in the IPL as a British national, representing Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders between 2012 and 2015.Mahmood played 23 IPL matches, scoring 388 runs and picking up 29 wickets. His IPL career showed that a former Pakistan international with British citizenship could find a route into the world's biggest T20 league.Amir's IPL participation, however, remains uncertain.
His registration for the APL draft does not automatically guarantee an entry into the IPL auction or a contract with a franchise. Whether he chooses to register for the auction and whether teams show interest in signing him remain to be seen.The Afghanistan Premier League draft also features two former India internationals, Vijay Shankar and KS Bharat, both of whom have retired from all forms of cricket, including the IPL.
Vijay has registered as an Indian player, while Bharat is listed as an Indian player resident in the UAE. Both have been placed in the Gold category, alongside Murugan Ashwin.
A total of 462 players have been shortlisted across the draft categories.The APL is expected to be held later this year. For Amir, however, the immediate focus could extend beyond Afghanistan.
Having already started his journey as a British national in English domestic cricket, an IPL opportunity could be the next big step in his franchise career.- Ends