Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir, one of only 21 players to top 300 wickets in Twenty20 cricket history, has been drafted in by the Desert Vipers to reinforce their pace stocks for season two of the DP World ILT20.
The 31-year-old, who stepped back from international cricket in 2020, is also one of only six Pakistan players to top 50 international wickets in all three formats – Tests, One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals – with 259 victims in total for his country.
Amir brings a wealth of experience to the Vipers, having represented 17 teams in the format prior to making his Vipers bow, including the Karachi Kings in the 2023 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Jamaica Tallawahs in the most recent edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Explaining Amir’s inclusion in the Desert Vipers squad, Director of Cricket Tom Moody said: “Players of Amir’s quality and experience are valuable assets, and we are delighted to have secured his services for this edition of the DP World ILT20.
“In signing Amir, we have lined up a player who knows both the format and the conditions in the UAE, inside-out. He was playing in Abu Dhabi as recently as last month, for the New York Strikers in the T10 tournament, under one of our coaches, Carl Crowe, with the Strikers going on to win that event in large part due to Amir’s contributions with the ball.
“And in a world where player availability is not always guaranteed because of international commitments, the fact he no longer plays for Pakistan means call-ups for his national team are not an issue.
“Amir adds further depth to our quality pace attack and we look forward to welcoming him to the Desert Vipers and to him contributing to what we hope and expect will be a successful campaign.”
Amir has tasted success at the highest levels of the sport, as part of Pakistan sides that won the ICC World T20 in 2009 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. He is one of only 11 Pakistan players to take 50 or more wickets in Twenty20 Internationals.
Amir said he was thrilled at the opportunity to link up with the side that finished as runners-up in the inaugural edition of the DP World ILT20 in February 2023, losing out to the Gulf Giants in the final.
“I am really looking forward to joining the Desert Vipers team,” he said. “Last year they performed so well, and I hope I can help to make us one of the top sides again this season.
“The dressing room has some very talented and experienced players like Alex Hales, Colin Munro and Sheldon Cottrell, and some exciting new faces and I am really looking forward to playing with my fellow Pakistanis Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Azam Khan.
“I always enjoy playing in the UAE because the cricket fans always support Pakistan players and cheer us on. I know the local conditions as I have played a lot of cricket there, so that will be an advantage for me. I cannot wait to come to Dubai, and meet the team and all the amazing coaching staff, including Carl Crowe, who I worked with in the T10 tournament last month.”
Amir had a busy 2023 which included finishing as the Jamaica Tallawahs’ top wicket-taker in the CPL. The fast bowler also claimed the most wickets for the Karachi Kings in the latest edition of the PSL.
The DP World ILT20 gets underway on Friday 19 January and the Desert Vipers’ first match is against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday 21 January.
Tickets for all Desert Vipers matches are now on sale and can be purchased via the official DP World ILT20 website or at any Virgin Megastore across the UAE.
