Mohammad Amir Says No to IPL 2027 Auction Despite British Citizenship

Mohammad Amir has shut the door on an IPL dream before it even opened. Newly acquired British citizenship had fans buzzing about a historic return for a Pakistan-born star, but the left-arm pacer has confirmed he will not register for the IPL 2027 auction, scheduled for December 16.

Amir Rules Out IPL 2027 Auction Entry

The 33-year-old gave a blunt answer in a message to Cricbuzz from Dubai. There was no hedging and no cryptic hint at a late change of heart.

“No, I’m not [registering for the auction],” said Amir, who has 159 international appearances for Pakistan. That one line ends days of speculation about whether the former Pakistan pacer could appear in the world’s richest T20 league.

Why the Buzz Started

Amir recently acquired British citizenship, and that changed the conversation. Players from Pakistan have not been permitted to take part in the IPL, so a British passport suddenly looked like a possible way in.

Even so, there was never a guarantee that a franchise would have bought him. Registering would only have opened the door, not secured a contract.

Pakistan, the IPL and a Long Gap

Pakistan players have not featured in the IPL since the inaugural season. That gap has lasted for years and has made any possible return a talking point whenever auction season rolls around.

There is one notable exception. Azhar Mahmood turned out in the league for a few seasons by virtue of holding a British passport. Amir could, in theory, have followed a similar path.

The Registration Route

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Monday that players wishing to enter the auction can register through their respective overseas boards. The registration window closes on November 23.

Amir could have registered through the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), since he is now treated as a domestic player in England. He has already represented Trent Rockets in The Hundred as a local player rather than an overseas recruit for the Nottingham-based franchise.

Amir’s Next Move: Afghanistan Premier League

While the IPL is off the table, Amir is not stepping away from franchise cricket. On Monday, he registered for the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) player draft as a UK national.

That is a clear signal of where his focus lies. The IPL chapter that many fans imagined will stay unwritten for now, but his T20 journey continues.

A Career Built on Left-Arm Pace

Amir’s international record speaks for itself. Across three formats, he has taken 271 wickets for Pakistan, and his 159 appearances are split almost evenly between Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

His international wicket tally across formats stands at 271.

IPL 2027 Auction Key Dates

For those tracking the auction timeline, here are the dates that matter.

What It Means

This is a story about a door that was briefly ajar and has now been closed by the player himself. For fans, the idea of a Pakistan-born bowler of Amir’s pedigree in IPL colours was too intriguing to ignore.

Instead, the attention shifts to the APL draft, where Amir will be hoping a franchise snaps him up. The IPL may have to wait, but a left-arm quick with 271 international wickets will not lack suitors elsewhere.

One question remains for fans to debate: would Amir have been a hit in the IPL, or is he better off charting a different T20 path?