Mohammad Amir Joins Kandahar in APL Platinum Pick
Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has been signed by Kandahar Warriors in the platinum category at the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) players draft. The Warriors took him with their first pick at the draft held in Dubai on Tuesday.
Amir, who now lives in England, registered for the draft as a United Kingdom national. He acquired British citizenship in May this year. That detail shapes his path into the league, since it may spare him the clearance process that other Pakistani players still face.
The APL is scheduled to be played later this year. It will feature five teams, with each franchise allowed a squad of up to 18 players. Squads will combine 11 to 12 Afghanistan players with six to seven overseas recruits.
Mohammad Amir APL pick: why his UK status matters
Amir was signed ahead of veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. The platinum category is the top pay band in the draft, worth 100,000 US dollars. Diamond players receive 65,000 dollars, gold players 40,000 dollars, silver players 20,000 dollars, and emerging players 10,000 dollars. Each franchise has a total player purse between 650,000 and 750,000 dollars.
Registering as a UK national could give Amir an advantage over his former Pakistan teammates. He may not need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), while Pakistani nationals in the draft do. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has clarified that the participation of Pakistani players is subject to PCB NOCs.
That NOC question is live for a large group of players. More than 30 Pakistani cricketers registered for the APL draft, including Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, and Imad Wasim. Their participation remains uncertain amid reported diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and media reports suggest the PCB is unlikely to issue NOCs.
The same clearance problem is already affecting another league. Feature Pakistan reported that Pakistan players are still waiting for PCB clearance days before the Abu Dhabi T10 starts. Amir’s UK registration sets him apart from that group, since his availability does not turn on a PCB decision in the same way.
A career built across franchise leagues
Amir brings deep franchise experience to Kandahar. He has played in the Bangladesh Premier League, the Caribbean Premier League, the Lanka Premier League, the International League T20, and The Hundred, along with the Pakistan Super League.
In T20 cricket overall, Amir has played 378 matches and taken 440 wickets at an average of 22.72, with an economy rate of 7.38. Those figures explain why a franchise would spend its first pick on a left-arm pacer: his record shows sustained wicket-taking across conditions and leagues.
His international career adds further weight. Amir represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 one-day internationals, and 62 T20 internationals. His last appearance for Pakistan came against Ireland during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June 2024.
For Kandahar, the signing is also a statement of intent. Taking an overseas fast bowler first, ahead of a home all-rounder of Nabi’s standing, signals that the Warriors want a proven new-ball threat to lead their attack. Platinum money follows that logic, since it buys the player a franchise builds its bowling plans around.
What happens next for Amir and the APL
Two questions will decide how this story develops. The first is whether the APL confirms its dates and venues, since the league is described only as scheduled for later this year. The second is whether other Pakistani players receive NOCs, or whether Amir ends up as the exception in a draft full of blocked names.
If the PCB withholds NOCs, franchises may turn to replacement overseas players, and the draft’s Pakistani contingent could shrink sharply. Amir, by contrast, can plan around the tournament with greater certainty, subject to his own fitness and availability.
Kandahar’s next picks will also show how the squad is taking shape. A platinum pacer needs support at the other end, and the Warriors’ choices in the diamond and gold rounds will reveal whether they are building a pace-led attack or balancing it with spin and batting depth.
For Pakistani fans, the story carries a familiar mix of pride and frustration. A former national star has earned top billing in a new league, while current players wait on a clearance that may never arrive. Amir’s platinum pick is deserved on its own terms, and it also highlights how much the NOC question now shapes where Pakistani cricketers can play.
The pick follows Amir’s APL draft entry, and comes after Amir denied IPL rumours.
Frequently asked questions
Which team signed Mohammad Amir in the APL draft?
Kandahar Warriors signed Mohammad Amir in the platinum category, taking him with their first pick at the draft in Dubai.
What is Mohammad Amir’s APL salary band?
Platinum players receive 100,000 US dollars. Diamond players receive 65,000 dollars, gold players 40,000 dollars, silver players 20,000 dollars, and emerging players 10,000 dollars.
Why did Amir register as a UK national?
Amir lives in England and acquired British citizenship in May 2026. Registering as a UK national may mean he does not need a PCB No Objection Certificate, unlike Pakistani nationals in the draft.
How many Pakistani players registered for the APL draft?
More than 30 Pakistani cricketers registered, including Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, and Imad Wasim.
What is Amir’s T20 record?
Amir has played 378 T20 matches and taken 440 wickets at an average of 22.72, with an economy rate of 7.38. He also played 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 62 T20Is for Pakistan.
