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Mohammad Amir Strikes Back at Haris Rauf For Picking Wahab Riaz Over Him

image-ljpi7iliWahab Riaz gets Virat Kohli's wicket in ICC CWC 2011 [Source: Twitter]

Pakistan has been blessed with a factory of never-ending fast bowlers, namely left-arm pacers, who have become a priced commodity in today's era. From Wasim Akram to Wahab Riaz, to Mohammad Amir and now Shaheen Afridi, left-arm bowlers have created havoc for international batters for decades.

Current pacer Haris Rauf, who has been Pakistan's most improved T20I bowler lately, named Riaz ahead of Amir in a recent TV interview. "Wahab Riaz is better than Mohammad Amir," Rauf replied to a query from an anchor.

Amir, who retired from international cricket in 2020, aged 28 then, responded to Rauf's remark and said that everyone is entitled to their opinion. As per Cricket Pakistan, Amir stated that for him, Akram will always be a cut above the rest.


Akram will always be my favorite: Amir

"I take this thing positively because everyone has their own personal favorite, just like my favorite bowler is Wasim Akram. No matter how many great left-arm bowlers come, Wasim Akram will always be my favorite. That doesn't mean I dislike other bowlers. Wahab (Riaz) might be Haris (Rauf)'s personal favorite, and I think if his opinion matters, then there's nothing wrong with it."

Amir, between 2009 and 2020, featured in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 50 T20Is, picking up 259 wickets combined as compared to Riaz, who played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs, and 36 T20Is, scalping 237 wickets across formats from 2008-2020.

Amir also served a five-year ban following his involvement in spot-fixing in 2011 and returned to active action in 2016.