KARACHI: Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has registered as a UK national for the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) draft, scheduled to take place in Dubai on Tuesday, according to media reports.
Amir, who currently resides in England and has acquired British citizenship, has been listed as a UK national in the draft register, with Pakistan mentioned as his country of residence. He has been placed in the Platinum category.
Amir has represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 62 T20 Internationals. His last appearance for the national side came against Ireland during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Lauderhill, Florida, in June 2024.
Registering as a UK national could also give Amir an advantage regarding his availability for the APL, as he may not require a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), unlike his former Pakistan teammates.
Meanwhile, 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 draft.
However, the participation of Pakistani players remains uncertain amid reported diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Media reports suggest that the PCB is unlikely to issue NOCs to its players for the tournament.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) draft register has also clarified that the participation of Pakistani players is subject to obtaining NOCs from the PCB.
The APL will feature five teams, with each franchise permitted to register a maximum of 18 players, comprising 11-12 Afghanistan players and six to seven overseas recruits.
The players have been divided into five categories, with Platinum players set to receive $100,000, followed by $65,000 for Diamond, $40,000 for Gold, $20,000 for Silver and $10,000 for Emerging players.
Each franchise will have a total player purse ranging from $650,000 to $750,000.