Can Mohammad Amir Play IPL Now? Ex-Pakistan Pacer Gets UK Citizenship

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir is said to have become eligible to play in the IPL after acquiring British citizenship. For years, the idea seemed impossible. Pakistani cricketers have not been seen in the tournament since the inaugural season in 2008.

An entire generation of fans have grown up without seeing a Pakistani player in IPL colours. That is why Amir’s recent nationality status has immediately caught the attention of the cricketing world.

British Passport Changes The Equation

Mohammad Amir had earlier revealed that he is in the process of getting a British passport through his wife, Narjees Khan, who is a British citizen.

According to reports, that process has now been completed, which will allow the left-arm fast bowler to qualify for franchise competitions as a British overseas player and not as a Pakistani player.
The development came to light after Amir reposted a story on Instagram discussing his nationality status and possible eligibility for future IPL participation.

For most cricketers, a passport is simply a travel document. For Amir, it could be a career-changing document. The change in nationality classification has the potential to change how leagues view player registration, opening up opportunities that previously seemed unavailable.

Amir Had Already Hinted At IPL Ambitions

This possibility is not new. Earlier this year, Aamir openly discussed the subject during an appearance on Pakistani television show Harna Mann Hai. The former Pakistan international had said that getting a British passport could make him eligible to participate in the IPL from 2026. His answer was straightforward.

“If the opportunity arises, why not?”

For someone who has spent a large part of his career playing franchise cricket around the world, the IPL is one of the few major competitions that is missing from his professional journey.

Why Pakistan Players Have Been Absent?

This debate naturally raises a question for young cricket fans.

Why don’t Pakistani cricketers play in the IPL?

The answer to this question goes back to the events following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Many Pakistani stars, including Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik and Sohail Tanvir, participated in the inaugural season of the IPL, but no Pakistani player has been seen in the tournament since then.

With political relations deteriorating, Pakistani players have been effectively banned from the IPL since the Mumbai terror attacks. The absences became so common that many fans eventually accepted them as permanent. That’s why Amir’s situation seems unusual. It challenges a reality that has existed for almost two decades.

The Azhar Mahmood Precedent

There is already an example that explains why Amir’s situation has attracted so much interest. Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood played successfully in the IPL after acquiring British citizenship.

Because he held a British passport, Mahmood was registered as an English player rather than a Pakistani cricketer. That distinction proved to be important. He represented Punjab Kings during the 2012 and 2013 seasons and then played for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2015.

His case demonstrated that citizenship status can influence a player’s eligibility classification in the league. For observers following Amir’s situation, Mahmood’s career provides the clearest comparison.

Why Teams Could Be Interested?

Even at 34, Amir remains one of the most popular fast bowlers in franchise cricket. During his international career, he represented Pakistan in 36 Test matches, 61 One-Day Internationals and 62 Twenty20 Internationals. His reputation was built on his ability to swing the new ball, control it under pressure and deliver in key matches.

Left-arm fast bowlers remain a valuable commodity in franchise cricket. Teams are constantly on the lookout for bowlers who can move the new ball at high speed and also cope with pressure situations at the death.

These qualities make Amir an attractive option despite the latter stages of his career. Whether an IPL franchise will ultimately take advantage of that opportunity remains uncertain. For now, though, the conversation itself is important.

After nearly eighteen years without a Pakistani-origin cricketer appearing in the IPL, Mohammad Amir’s British citizenship has suddenly made a once-impossible possibility a very real one.

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