Mohammad Amir’s abrupt decision to retire from Test cricket has surprised many in the cricket fraternity for taking a permanent leave from the five-day format at the age of just 27. However, Amir’s decision has been termed by Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur as “unsurprising”.
In a recent interview, Arthur pinpointed Amir’s five-year suspension from the game as the turning point of his career. Arthur stated that the left-arm pacer did not prepare himself for the rigors of Test cricket during this period and as a result failed to cope with the tough requirements of five-day cricket once he did return to the international arena.
“He could have managed those five years better. He'd be the first one to acknowledge that. But I understand where he was in his whole life, so it was a tough period for him. I understand all that,” Arthur told a cricket publication.