Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir announces retirement from Test cricket

Pakistan sensation Mohammad Amir has dropped a bombshell about his future as a Test cricketer. The fast bowler announces his retirement from the longer format of the game.

"It has been an honour to represent Pakistan in the pinnacle and traditional format of the game. I, however, have decided to move away from the longer version so I can concentrate on white-ball cricket," Amir said in a statement.

Earlier in 2017, the 27-year-old was considering retiring to focus on One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals. 

"Amir himself is now upset that how this private discussion came out in the open and who leaked the discussions. The Pakistan Cricket Board and team management in West Indies is now investigating as to who is responsible for leaking out this private discussion," a report in Pakistan said. 

"He apparently indicated he would like to focus on one-dayers and T20 cricket," the report said.

Nothing unusual?

A lot of cricketers have quit Test cricket to concentrate on the shorter format. Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi had retired from Tests in 2010 and continued to play ODIs and T20s until his retirement.

The bowler - who made his Test debut at the age of 17 in Sri Lanka in 2009 - walks away from the format after having picked 119 wickets in the 36 games he's played.

He had taken a career-best 5-30 against Australia in the recently concluded World Cup.