Mohammad Amir Denies IPL Rumours, Clearing the Air Before APL Draft
Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has denied rumours that he plans to enter the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 auction as a British player after obtaining UK citizenship. The Mohammad Amir IPL denial comes days before the Afghanistan Premier League draft in Dubai.
Amir addressed the rumours on X, writing: “Hi everyone just wanted to clarify news regarding IPL is not true.”
According to the rumours, the 34-year-old pacer was widely expected to register for the upcoming IPL auction, scheduled to take place in Goa on 16 December. His denial puts an end, for now, to that speculation.
Why the rumour gained traction
The rumour did not come from nowhere. Amir, who currently lives in England, has registered as a UK national for the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) draft, scheduled to be held in Dubai on 3 November. He has been listed as a British national in the APL draft register, with Pakistan mentioned as his country of residence, and has been placed in the Platinum category, which carries a player fee of $100,000.
He has also been playing as a local player in English domestic competitions, including the T20 Blast and The Hundred. His British citizenship could, in theory, pave the way for participation in the IPL, where Pakistani nationals have been unable to compete in recent years.
There is a precedent. Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood followed a similar route after obtaining a British passport, playing for Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders between 2012 and 2015 despite the restrictions on Pakistani players. That history is why a British passport in Amir’s case immediately raised questions about the IPL.
Amir’s own statement, however, is unambiguous. He has said the IPL news is not true, and there is no indication from him that an IPL auction registration is planned.
The APL draft and the NOC question
Amir’s registration for the APL as a UK national could also allow him to participate without requiring a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). That is a significant distinction, because it does not apply to the other Pakistanis in the draft.
More than 30 Pakistani cricketers, including Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim, have registered for the APL draft. Their participation remains uncertain due to diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Reports suggest that the PCB is unlikely to issue NOCs, while the Afghanistan Cricket Board has made it clear that Pakistani players must obtain clearance from the PCB.
That leaves two different situations heading into the Dubai draft. Amir, registered as a British national, is not in the same NOC position as his compatriots. The rest of the Pakistani contingent must wait on a PCB decision that, on current reporting, looks unlikely to go their way.
Amir’s career in brief
Amir has represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 one-day internationals and 62 Twenty20 internationals. He last played for the national team against Ireland during the 2024 T20 World Cup in Lauderhill, Florida.
Since then, his career has continued in franchise and domestic cricket, including as a local player in England. The IPL denial closes one line of speculation, but the APL draft on 3 November remains the immediate next step, and his Platinum listing shows the value franchises still place on his left-arm pace.
For fans, the sequence is worth keeping straight. The APL registration as a UK national is real. The IPL auction rumour, according to Amir himself, is not.
Frequently asked questions
What did Mohammad Amir say about the IPL?
On X, he wrote: “Hi everyone just wanted to clarify news regarding IPL is not true.”
Why did IPL rumours link him with the auction?
He lives in England, plays as a local in the T20 Blast and The Hundred, and has registered as a UK national for the APL draft, while Pakistani nationals have been unable to compete in the IPL in recent years.
Has a Pakistani player used a British passport for the IPL before?
Yes. Azhar Mahmood played for Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders between 2012 and 2015 after obtaining a British passport.
When is the APL draft?
On 3 November in Dubai. Amir is listed in the Platinum category, with a player fee of $100,000.
Do other Pakistani players in the APL draft need PCB clearance?
Yes. More than 30 have registered, but reports say the PCB is unlikely to issue NOCs, and the Afghanistan Cricket Board requires PCB clearance for Pakistani players.
