Door open for Amir's return if he improves performance, takes back retirement: Misbah

Pakistan head coach Misbahul Haq said on Saturday that the door was open for Mohammad Amir to return to the Pakistan cricket team if he took back his retirement and his performance improved.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore before the team heads for the England and West Indies tours, the head coach said: "I have said this before that Amir being dropped from the team was based on his performance and injuries [...] If he takes back his retirement and his performance improves, then I've always said that the door is open for every player. I have nothing personal [against him]."

"I was the captain and later the coach when he returned," Misbah recalled. He said Amir had been accommodated before when he was facing personal issues and had been called back to the team once they were resolved.

"The main thing is if Amir performs and he is available for the team and the team needs him then I never consider personal [issues] or what happened previously," said Misbah.

Amir had in December 2020 announced his retirement from international cricket, alleging that he was being "mentally tortured" by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management.

He had said that the environment at the PCB and the way he was sidelined from the 35-member squad for the New Zealand tour was a "wake-up call" for him.

"If I wasn't in the plan for those 35 boys, then it is a wake-up call for me to figure out my future plan [and] how I have to carry on my cricket.

"The kind of environment that has been created, I don't think I can play cricket under this management [...] I am leaving cricket at this time," he had said.

According to a PCB press release at the time, Amir had confirmed that “he has no desire or intention of playing international cricket and as such, he should not be considered for future international matches.”

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