Mohammad Amir has publicly dismissed reports suggesting he was preparing to enter the IPL 2027 auction as a British national. The 34-year-old left-arm pacer posted a clarification on X on Monday, November 2, 2026, addressing the widespread speculation that had built up around his eligibility and intentions ahead of the auction.
The denial came after multiple outlets, including Cricbuzz, had reported that Amir was widely expected to register for the IPL 2027 auction by using his British citizenship rather than his Pakistani passport.
“Hi everyone just wanted to clarify news regarding IPL is not true,” Amir stated on X putting to rest the reports that had circulated widely.
The IPL 2027 player auction is scheduled for December 16 in Goa, with the franchise retention deadline set for November 17. Amir’s clarification arrived well ahead of both those dates, though he has not explicitly ruled out participating in the IPL at some point in the future.
Why were reports linking Amir to the IPL 2027 auction circulating?
The speculation gained traction after Amir registered for the Afghanistan Premier League draft, which is scheduled to be held in Dubai on November 3. In the APL draft, Amir was listed in the Platinum category with the United Kingdom mentioned as his country of residence, not Pakistan. That listing as a UK national prompted the inference that he could follow the same route to enter the IPL 2027 auction.
Amir acquired British citizenship in May 2026 through his marriage to UK-based lawyer Narjis Khan. Holding a British passport would allow him to register for the IPL as an overseas player from a non-restricted country, bypassing the longstanding barrier that has kept Pakistani cricketers out of the league. Pakistan players have not featured in the IPL since the inaugural season in 2008.
Speaking during The Hundred in August 2026, Amir had said he had not decided whether he would participate in the IPL, a statement that kept the door open and fuelled further conjecture. His post on Monday was the first direct denial he has issued on the subject.
What is the broader context of Pakistani players and the IPL?
Pakistani cricketers have been absent from the IPL since 2008, making Amir’s British citizenship a point of significant interest for franchise scouts and cricket followers alike. The precedent for this route was set by former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who used his British citizenship to play in the IPL between 2012 and 2015, representing Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders during that period.
Amir last represented Pakistan at the 2024 T20 World Cup before stepping away from international cricket. His continued involvement in franchise tournaments across the world, including his APL draft registration ahead of the November 3 event in Dubai, confirms he remains active in the T20 circuit as a British national. Whether the IPL forms part of his future plans beyond the 2027 cycle remains an open question, given that he has not ruled it out entirely.
The IPL 2027 auction in Goa on December 16 will proceed with franchises working to their November 17 retention deadline, and Amir’s name will not be among those in the pool, at least for this cycle, following his clarification on Monday.
