Mohammad Amir’s Ireland Visa Delay Puts T20I Series Participation in Doubt
Mohammad Amir’s absence from Pakistan’s tour of Ireland has raised concerns about his participation in the upcoming T20I series. The left-arm pacer, who holds permanent residency in the United Kingdom, applied for an Ireland visa alongside his teammates. However, while the rest of the squad received their visas before departing for Dublin on Tuesday, Amir’s application remained pending.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been in contact with Cricket Ireland regarding the issue, emphasizing that it is the host board’s responsibility to facilitate and provide visas for the visiting team in a timely manner. Given the short duration of the tour, with Pakistan scheduled to play three T20Is from May 10 to 14, Amir’s involvement in the series is now in jeopardy.
As of now, there is no information on when Amir’s visa is expected to be approved. Mohammad Yousaf, a member of Pakistan’s management team, also experienced a delay in his visa approval but managed to receive it just in time to join the squad. It is unclear whether Amir’s visa delay is related to the timing of his application, although the PCB maintains that he applied simultaneously with the rest of the team.
Amir has previously visited Ireland as part of Pakistan’s squad for the country’s inaugural Test match in Malahide in 2018. After retiring from international cricket in 2020, he reversed his decision earlier this year and made his return in the recently concluded home series against New Zealand.
The Pakistan squad is expected to arrive in Dublin on Wednesday morning, with all three T20Is scheduled to be played at the same venue. Following the Ireland tour, Pakistan will travel to the UK for four T20Is ahead of the World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.
