Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has made a major admission about Mohammad Amir, saying the left-arm pacer was a better bowler than him but that his talent was ultimately wasted.
Shoaib Akhtar expressed disappointment over how Amir’s career unfolded despite his considerable ability.
“Mohammad Amir was wasted. He was a much better bowler than me. I was very disappointed,” Akhtar said.
The former Pakistan speedster added that he always wanted Pakistan to produce fast bowlers who were better than him and believed Amir had the potential to do just that.
“I always wanted better bowlers than me to come along. When Amir came, I decided to retire,” he added.
Amir emerged as one of Pakistan’s leading fast-bowling talents after making his international debut in 2009. His international career eventually ended with 271 wickets across 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 62 T20Is.
He initially retired from international cricket in 2020 before returning to the Pakistan setup ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. He later announced his retirement from international cricket again.
One of Amir’s most memorable performances came in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final against India. He dismissed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan as Pakistan went on to win the title.
The 34-year-old remains active in franchise cricket and recently obtained British citizenship. He played the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) as a local player for RawalPindiz but has confirmed that he will register as an overseas player for PSL 12 in 2027.
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