T20 World Cup: Amir held 'private training sessions'

Pakistan pacer Mohammed Amir, who joined the national side after taking back his retirement, held separate sessions with his personal trainer during the T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, sources told Geo News Friday. 

The sources said Amir took training from a foreign trainer despite the availability of one for the national side. 

However, the pacer was given permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management to bring his personal trainer not only to the United States but during Ireland and England tours as well, the sources said.

They said though the trainer’s expenses were borne by the pacer himself but the cricket body had to make arrangements in this regard. 

The sources said this while revealing several reasons behind Pakistan's poor performance as a team in the mega T20 tournament which led to their early exit.

“Surprisingly, Amir did not hold training with the team, rather he held separate sessions with his personal trainer,” the sources said.

Amir conceded 18 runs in Super Over of one of the biggest upset of the mega event, following which Pakistan’s chances for advancing into the Super 8 stage were drastically cut.

The first time T20 World Cup playing nation, US, defeated Pakistan in this match. The debutants cruised into the Super 8 stage from Group A along with India.

Another reason for the team members’ distraction has been attributed to their travelling with family members during the tour. Apart from players and support staff, a group of 26-28 people comprising the cricketers’ wives and family members travelled during the mega event.

Other than Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim and Wahab Riaz were also accompanied by their wives and children, while skipper Babar Azam’s parents and brother toured the US with the Men in Green. Haris Rauf, on the other hand, travelled with his spouse.

The team players and their family members reportedly held parties and gatherings after matches.