LAHORE: Pakistan’s fast bowling greats Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar have expressed their surprise over young paceman Mohammad Amir’s decision of retiring from Test cricket.

In a media release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday, left-armer Amir said he was quitting Test matches, the game’s longest and traditional format, to focus on limited-overs games, i.e. ODIs and Twenty20s.

Former Pakistan skipper Wasim in his tweet message expressed his surprise at Amir’s decision.

“To me Mohammad Amir retiring from Test cricket is a bit surprising because you peak at 27-28 [years] and Test cricket is where you are judged against the best, it’s the ultimate format. Pakistan will need him in two Tests in Australia [later this year] and then three in England [in 2020],” Wasim, the fast bowling legend, tweeted.

Speedster Shoaib also expressed his concern over the decision and termed it a wrong precedence for the rest of the young lot of fast bowlers in Pakistan.

“Amir quitting Test matches could be followed by retirement of Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz and Juanid Khan. I don’t understand what is happening with the Pakistan team. How could Amir retire at the age of 27?” wondered Shoaib.

“Pakistan has invested so much on him and brought him out of the [2010] spot-fixing scandal to the national side and is trying to give him chances. Now that he was in good form, he has retired,” Shoaib regretted.

The 43-year-old Shoaib, who played for Pakistan in all formats, said that it was the time for Amir to pay back to the country because in Test matches noting the national team’s performance had touched the lowest point.

“You needed to show energy and deliver. You should have tried to play a role to win a series or more for Pakistan. Just like the way I won the series for Pakistan against New Zealand and England,” Shoaib emphasised.

Waqar Younis, another fast bowling icon known worldwide for his tow-crushing yorkers, posted a rather cryptic tweet in his reaction to Amir’s retirement.

“All the best with your white-ball cricket,” ex-skipper Waqar, who retired from international cricket in 2003, wrote in his tweet tagging Amir.

Meanwhile, former Test opener Ramiz Raja was also dismayed by Amir’s decision.

“Amir white flagging Test cricket at 27 is disappointing. Besides being dismissive of the greatest format that makes stars legends his decision is clearly not in line with the needs of Pak ckt which is desperately looking to reboot test cricket. Was time to repay & not eject,” Ramiz, who is now a TV commentator, tweeted.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2019