Image: Mohammad Amir (Wikimedia Commons)
Mohammad Amir: Talent, Disgrace, and One of Cricket’s Most Debated Comebacks
He was, by the honest assessment of judges as demanding as Wasim Akram, one of the most gifted teenage fast bowlers Pakistan had ever produced. He was also convicted in a British court for deliberately bowling corrupt no-balls at the age of 18.
A meteoric rise
Amir was born on 13 April 1992 in Gujar Khan, Punjab. By the summer of 2010, he became the youngest player ever to take a Test five-wicket haul in England, and the youngest to reach 50 Test wickets.
The scandal
In August 2010, allegations emerged that Amir had deliberately bowled no-balls during Pakistan’s England tour in exchange for payment from a betting syndicate. He was convicted of conspiracy at Southwark Crown Court and received a five-year ICC ban, serving three months in a young offenders’ institution.
Return to the international stage
Amir made his international comeback in January 2016. His best-remembered performance came in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against India, dismissing Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli — figures of 3 for 16 — helping Pakistan win the tournament for the first time.
Retiring, then reversing course — twice
Amir retired from Test cricket in 2019, then from international cricket in 2020, reversed that for the 2024 T20 World Cup, and retired for a second time in December 2024.
A career people still argue about
Public opinion on Amir remains genuinely split, more than a decade on from the scandal — supporters point to his age and genuine redemption, critics argue reinstating a proven match-fixer normalises corruption.
Where his career stands
Mohammad Amir retired in December 2024, closing out a career that included a genuinely elite peak that showed exactly why he was once compared to Wasim Akram.
Quick facts
Full name: Mohammad Amir | Born: 13 April 1992, Gujar Khan, Punjab | Role: Left-arm fast-medium bowler | Notable: Youngest player to take a Test five-wicket haul in England and reach 50 Test wickets (2010), 2017 Champions Trophy final Player of the Match-calibre spell (3 for 16 vs India), five-year ICC ban and conviction for spot-fixing (2011), second player in Pakistan history to 400 T20 wickets.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Mohammad Amir?
Born on 13 April 1992, Mohammad Amir is in his mid-thirties as of 2026.
What did Mohammad Amir do in the spot-fixing scandal?
He deliberately bowled pre-arranged no-balls during Pakistan’s 2010 tour of England, for which he was convicted of conspiracy and served prison time.
How long was Mohammad Amir banned for?
Five years by the ICC, with early reinstatement in 2015.
Has Mohammad Amir retired?
Yes — he retired from Test cricket in 2019, and from international cricket for a final time in December 2024.
What is Mohammad Amir’s most famous performance?
His spell of 3 for 16 in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against India.
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Researched and fact-checked against official league, federation and governing-body sources. Reviewed by Makhdoomzada Zaeem Muhammad, Founder & Editor, PinLivescore.