Former fast bowler Mohammad Amir has joined the growing list of ex-cricketers—Rashid Latif, Mohammad Hafeez, Waqar Younis, and Wasim Akram—who have criticized a former player from the ’90s. A video of his remarks is now going viral on social media.
Speaking on a private TV channel, Amir indirectly targeted Waqar Younis, accusing a former cricketer from the ’90s of trying to ruin his career. He claimed that despite performing well, he was excluded from the squad for the New Zealand tour to maintain the selection committee’s influence.
Recalling an incident, Amir said, “Do you remember the year Karachi Kings won the final? We played a Super Over against Multan and won. After that, we were supposed to tour New Zealand, and a squad of 40 players was announced—but my name wasn’t on the list.”
He further stated that the squad was finalized before the PSL playoffs, and he was deliberately left out. “They knew if I performed well, they would have no choice but to take me,” he added.
Amir revealed that a member of the coaching staff, also from the ’90s era, faced repeated questions about his exclusion. “Everyone was asking him, ‘Why isn’t Amir in the squad? He’s performing well!’ But he kept saying, ‘No, no, he’s in our plans.’”
Continuing his criticism, Amir addressed former cricketers, saying, “I have no interest in competing with you. Every player has his era. You made a name for yourself, but when you repeatedly say ‘our era, our era’ on TV, it can frustrate the current generation.”
Amir urged former players to support the national team rather than undermine their confidence. “Instead of discouraging players, provide solutions. Some make jokes, some resort to personal attacks. I’ve been speaking openly about this for the past two years—focus on performance. I always cite Younis and Sarfaraz as examples of great leaders.”
Expressing his frustration, Amir reflected on his own achievements. “During my time, we did a lot. In 2016, we drew the Test series against England 2-2. In 2017, we won the Champions Trophy. In 2018, we won a T20 series in New Zealand. We were also ranked No. 1 in Test cricket and could have made the 2019 World Cup semi-finals if not for net run rate.”
Earlier, former captain Rashid Latif had also criticized cricketers from the ’90s, calling for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to keep them away from management matters. Mohammad Hafeez also expressed disappointment over that generation’s failure to win an ICC trophy.