Pace bowler Mohammad Amir has formally decided against making a bid for the Indian Premier League in the 2027 edition. Following his recent acquisition of British citizenship, widespread speculation had emerged regarding his potential eligibility to take part in the cash-rich Indian tournament. However, the 33-year-old left-arm seamer put an end to all surrounding conjecture by firmly stating that he will not be putting his name forward for the upcoming player bidding process.
Confirmation on Skipping the Bidding Process
The auction for IPL 2027 is scheduled to take place on December 16. When addressed directly about whether he intended to enter the pool of available players, Amir provided an unequivocal clarification, stating that he is not registering for the auction. As per the timeline laid down by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, also known as the BCCI, foreign cricketers intending to participate must complete their registration through their respective home cricket boards by November 23, a process formally announced on November 2.
The British Passport Route and Historic Precedent
The interest surrounding Amir arose primarily because cricketers from Pakistan have not been permitted to take part in the tournament since its debut season back in 2008. Given those existing boundaries, Amir's UK passport was viewed by observers as a possible pathway into the competition. A similar precedent was previously established by former Pakistan-born cricketer Azhar Mahmood, who featured across multiple IPL seasons precisely because he held British citizenship. Consequently, cricket circles had anticipated a similar trajectory for Amir, an avenue he has now chosen to close.
Local Status in England and Commitments to Other Leagues
Following his change in citizenship, Amir became eligible to submit his application through the England and Wales Cricket Board, commonly known as the ECB. Across English cricketing competitions, he is treated as a local domestic cricketer rather than an overseas recruit. This dynamic was visibly demonstrated during The Hundred tournament, where he turned out for the Nottingham-based franchise Trent Rockets as a domestic member of the squad. Furthermore, he registered his name as a British citizen on Monday for the player draft of the Afghanistan Premier League, also known as the APL.
International Track Record Spanning 271 Dismissals
Amir brings a substantial background of elite-level cricket, having represented Pakistan in 159 matches across all three formats of the sport. His international appearances include 36 Test matches, 61 one-day internationals, and 62 T20 internationals. Over the course of his national team tenure, he accumulated an aggregate tally of 271 wickets across formats. Despite his extensive track record in the game, he has chosen not to explore an opportunity in the 2027 edition of the IPL.
