'I'm Not on the Team Because...': Mohammad Amir Subtly Accuses PCB of 'Favouritism'
Mohammad Amir last played an ODI for Pakistan in 2019 (Twitter)
Following Pakistan's unexpected defeat against Afghanistan in the ICC World Cup 2023 fixture at Chennai's Chepauk Stadium recently, tensions have been mounting within the cricketing community.
Amir's subtle jab points to Pakistan team selection issues
The Babar Azam-led side, which has been struggling with form, now finds itself at a critical juncture, placed fifth on the points table. Their journey to the semi-finals looks increasingly perilous as they must secure wins against formidable opponents like South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and the reigning champions, England.
Amidst the uncertainty, the team's selection choices have sparked significant debate. One point of contention that's dominating the discourse is the exclusion of seasoned pacer Mohammad Amir from the World Cup squad. This became even more glaring when young pace sensation, Naseem Shah had to withdraw from the squad due to an injury.
In a recent interaction with a local news channel, Amir indirectly implied that personal biases might have influenced his omission from the team. While he didn't explicitly accuse anyone, his remark that he wasn't part of the squad due to his lack of "friends" in influential places speaks volumes. This insinuation aligns with the longstanding criticisms that the Pakistan cricket team sometimes shows favouritism in player selections.
“I'm not on the team because I don't have friends,” said Amir referring to favouritism within the Pakistan squad.
Meanwhile, with their World Cup dreams hanging by a thread, Pakistan faces a must-win situation against South Africa this Friday. Another slip-up would likely spell the end of their campaign, further intensifying the scrutiny on team management and selection decisions.
 "Jatin")
