Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has registered as a UK national for the Afghanistan Premier League draft. The event is set to take place in Dubai on Tuesday, according to media reports.
Amir lives in England and now holds British citizenship. In the official draft list he appears under the United Kingdom category, while Pakistan is listed as his country of residence. Organisers have placed him in the Platinum group, the top tier of available players.
The left-arm pacer represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 One-Day Internationals and 62 T20 Internationals. His final appearance for the national team came against Ireland during the 2024 T20 World Cup in Florida.
By entering the draft as a UK national, Amir may avoid the need for a No-Objection Certificate from the Pakistan Cricket Board. This could give him a clear advantage in availability compared to other Pakistani players.
More than 30 Pakistani cricketers have also put their names forward. The list includes Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim.
Their participation remains uncertain, however. Media reports indicate that the Pakistan Cricket Board is unlikely to issue NOCs because of ongoing diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has clearly stated that any Pakistani player must receive official clearance from the PCB before taking part.
The Afghanistan Premier League will feature five franchises. Each team can sign a maximum of 18 players, including 11 to 12 Afghanistan nationals and six to seven overseas recruits.
Players are divided into five categories. Platinum players will earn 100,000 dollars, Diamond players 65,000 dollars, Gold players 40,000 dollars, Silver players 20,000 dollars and Emerging players 10,000 dollars. Every franchise will work with a total budget between 650,000 and 750,000 dollars.
Mohammad Amir’s decision to register under UK nationality could open a smooth path into the tournament while many of his former teammates wait for official permission that may never arrive.
