Mohammad Amir calls for accountability after Champions Trophy loss

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has expressed his disappointment with the team's performance following their loss to India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Amir raised concerns about captain Muhammad Rizwan's leadership and called for greater accountability from the selectors regarding squad selection.

Amir took issue with Rizwan’s post-match comments, particularly his statement that Saim Ayub was a "gelling factor" for the team and that his absence left the squad unsettled. 

Amir dismissed this notion, saying, "If that’s the case, then Australia should have just stayed home too. They’re missing Starc, Marsh, and Cummins." 

He argued that a captain should not depend on a single player to define team performance and questioned the lack of a backup plan if Ayub's absence was so detrimental. 

"As a leader, when you don’t have a Plan B, then what are you even doing with the team?" he asked.

The former fast bowler also criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for selecting players based on their performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) instead of domestic cricket. 

"PSL should not be the criteria for national team selection. The top performers from domestic cricket should be the priority, not PSL," Amir stated. 

He highlighted that selecting T20 specialists for 50-over cricket was misguided and emphasized that ODI selections should be based on performances in longer formats.

Amir held the selectors responsible for the poor composition of Pakistan's squad. 

"The people who said we don’t need spinners or proper openers should now come forward and admit their mistake. We struggled in the opening and middle overs—who is responsible for that?" he asked.

He also criticized decision-makers who have remained in power despite repeated failures, saying, "The same faces keep coming back into the system despite being removed multiple times. How can you move forward like this?"

With Pakistan's exit from the Champions Trophy almost certain, Amir's comments reflect growing concerns over the team's direction, selection policies, and leadership choices.