Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has registered for the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) player draft as a British citizen after acquiring a British passport. He later denied rumours that he would enter the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 auction.
Amir, 34, lives in England and has been playing as a local in English domestic competitions, including the T20 Blast and The Hundred. In the APL draft register he appears as a British national, with Pakistan listed as his country of residence, and has been placed in the Platinum category carrying a $100,000 player fee.
APL draft listing and the PCB NOC question
The APL draft is scheduled for 3 November in Dubai. Sources say the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the body that oversees Pakistan cricket, has decided against issuing no-objection certificates (NOCs)—formal clearance letters players usually need from their home board—to Pakistani cricketers seeking to take part in the APL.
Amir’s British citizenship means he does not need a PCB NOC to enter that tournament. More than 30 Pakistani cricketers, including Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim, have also registered for the draft. Their participation remains uncertain amid diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan; reports say the PCB is unlikely to issue NOCs, while the Afghanistan Cricket Board has said Pakistani players must obtain clearance.
IPL rumours: Amir denial
On 2 November Amir posted on X that news regarding the IPL was not true, denying rumours he would register for the 2027 auction in Goa on 16 December. The confirmed nationality listing remains only for the APL draft.
British citizenship has previously been discussed as a possible route into the IPL, where Pakistani nationals have been unable to compete in recent years, but Amir has now said the IPL reports about him are not true. His confirmed step is the APL registration.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- British passport acquired: Amir obtained British citizenship and a British passport, allowing him to enter overseas drafts as a UK national.
- APL draft listing: He registered for the Afghanistan Premier League draft as a British citizen and was placed in the Platinum category at a $100,000 fee.
- 3 November 2026: The APL draft is scheduled to be held in Dubai.
- IPL rumours denied: On 2 November Amir said on X that news regarding the IPL was not true.
- 16 December: The IPL auction is scheduled to take place in Goa.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Mohammad Amir ne British passport le kar Afghanistan Premier League ke draft mein UK player ke tor par naam likhwa diya hai. Is wajah se unhein PCB se NOC ki zarurat nahi. IPL 2027 ke rumours par unhone X par clear kiya ke IPL ki khabar theek nahi. Abhi confirmed step sirf APL hai.
