Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Amir has attracted social media attention after he allegedly "liked" a tweet that suggested he should leave the “terrorist country” Pakistan. Despite the initial tweet was apparently deleted, the screenshot of it has gone viral.
— DIVYANSHU (@MSDivyanshu) 28 July 2019
Amir's alleged liking of the “anti-Pakistan” tweet has fuelled rumours that the 27-year-old fast bowler decided to retire in order to obtain a British passport and settle down in the UK. The cricketer is married to Nargis Malik, a British national and that allows him to attain a spouse visa in the country.
— Asad Ali Baloch (@aliasadali216) 26 July 2019
— Dhairya Ingle 🇮🇳 (@dhairya_001) 29 July 2019
Some fans believe that Amir took inspiration from Jofra Archer, the West India-born naturalised English cricketer who was the England cricket team’s hero in the recently concluded Cricket World Cup 2019. Fans wondered if Amir would wear English colours in the next world cup in 2023.
— Karthik Gangadhar (@karthikg1643) 29 July 2019
— Likith M (@LikithM10) 29 July 2019
One user looked to remind Amir of the help and support extended to him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after he was banned for five years by the International Cricket Council in 2010, for being convicted in a case of “spot-fixing”.
— 🇵🇰نياپاکستان 🇵🇰 (@krd2762) 26 July 2019
Amir was one of the best performers in the recent World Cup, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker for his country.
His decision to retire has upset one and all in Pakistani cricket circles, including former cricket legends like Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar. Some Pakistani fans have also requested that Prime Minister Imran Khan look into the matter, and convince Amir to come out of retirement.