Pakistan pace greats including Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar have expressed their disappointment with Mohammad Amir's decision to retire from Test cricket at the age of 27.
According to Akram, Amir shouldn't have hung his boots from Test cricket so early, as that is when a fast bowlers peaks. "To me Mohammad Amir retiring from Test cricket is a bit surprising because you peak at 27-28 and Test cricket is where you are judged against the best, it's the ultimate format," Akram tweeted on Friday.
According to the 53-year-old, Pakistan will need Amir in the upcoming two Tests in Australia (November-December) and then in the Test series in England (slated for next year).
Akhtar on his Youtube channel said, "It was Amir's time to pay back to Pakistan cricket. If I was 27, I would love to play Test cricket. It is the ultimate test for a cricketer. Amir should have carried on and helped Pakistan win Tests, a format in which the team is struggling".
Former skipper Ramiz Raja also echoed Akram's sentiments and tweeted: "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 in line with the needs of Pak ckt which is desperately looking to reboot test cricket. Was time to repay & not eject. (sic.)"
On Friday, Amir bid adieu to Test cricket, saying he wants to focus on white-ball cricket for Pakistan.
The left-arm pacer, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Galle in July 2009, featured in 36 Tests, taking 119 wickets at an average of 30.47.
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