Pakistan left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir was unable to accompany the rest of his teammates on their flight to Ireland for a three-match T20I series later this month.
Mohammad Amir is part of the 17-man squad announced for the series in Ireland, which will be followed by a four-match T20I series in England. Pakistan are at the end of a 2-2 draw in a 5-match home T20I series against New Zealand Last month. The Green Amry still have 7 games left to prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Mohammad Amir is struggling with visa problems
While the Pakistan team flew to Ireland for the series yesterday (Tuesday), Mohammad Amir was unable to board the flight due to visa issues. Amir is having difficulty obtaining his visa from the Irish government authorities and this matter is apparently on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB’s) mind, according to Cricket Pakistan.
With just two days left for the first game of a three-match T20I series, Mohammad Amir’s refusal to get a visa will definitely prove problematic. It will also be a hindrance for Pakistan as they prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies. The World Cup is the main reason why Amir was brought into the team alongside all-rounder Imad Wasim.
The delay in issuing a visa occurs even if Mohammad Amir has British citizenship, which he acquired in 2018. Sources close to PCB have revealed that the left-hander and the board are waiting for the Irish cricket board to facilitate Amir’s visa.
The PCB has stressed that it is the duty of the Irish board to sort out visas for the traveling team and there was optimism on Wednesday morning that the issue would be resolved.
After the series in Ireland, Mohammad Amir will also have to play in the four-match cross-border T20I series in England from the end of May. But with such visa complications, it will be interesting to see in what condition Amir ends up in Ireland. If the issue is resolved today he may get some practice time for the series, if not he will certainly miss the first game on May 10th.
The following two T20Is will take place at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground on May 12 and 14.
The Pakistan team is then expected to fly to England on May 16 and 17 for some training sessions ahead of the England series. Pakistan will play the 1st T20I on May 22 (Wed), the 2nd T20I on May 25 and the 3rd T20I on May 28 and the series ends on May 30.
For the 2009 T20 World Cup winners to excel in the next two months, the inclusion of Mohammad Amir will be very important. It remains to be seen when Amir will get his visa.
Pakistan squad for the series against Ireland
Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan