Dubai will host the Afghanistan Premier League player draft on November 3, and among those who have entered the pool is Mohammad Amir, the 34-year-old left-arm pacer who now holds British citizenship. His registration lists the United Kingdom as his country of residence, though Pakistan remains his affiliated national cricket board. The APL has placed him in the Platinum tier, the highest category available in the draft.
Amir acquired British citizenship in May 2026, and his dual identity raises a comparison with Azhar Mahmood, the Pakistan-born England player who turned out for Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab in the IPL between 2012 and 2015 despite the ban on Pakistani nationals in that league. Whether Amir’s British passport opens a similar pathway in franchise cricket remains an open question, but his Platinum listing signals that APL organisers view him as a marquee recruit.
His most recent appearance for Pakistan came at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, when he played against Ireland at Lauderhill in Florida. There, he brought down the curtain on an international career that spanned 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 62 T20Is for Pakistan.
Which Indians and other players have entered the APL draft?
Cricbuzz reported that alongside Amir, several players from India and the Indian diaspora have also entered the draft pool. Former India wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat, who has retired from all formats including the IPL, is listed in the Gold category alongside former India all-rounder Vijay Shankar and off-spinner Murugan Ashwin. Bharat, Vijay and Murugan are among 462 players shortlisted in the Gold tier.
There are also a number of Indians representing other nations in the pool. Ayaan Khan, who plays for Oman, features in the list, as do Unmukt Chand from the United States, Rahul Chopra and Akshdeep Nath from the UAE, Alishan Sharafu from the UAE, Aryan Afzal Khan from the UAE, Dhruv Parashar from the UAE, Vraj Patel from Kenya and Yasin Patel from Kuwait.
What does the APL draft mean for Amir’s franchise future?
The Dubai draft on November 3 arrives at a moment when franchise T20 leagues worldwide are actively courting experienced international names. For Amir, entering the APL pool is a concrete step towards extending his franchise career after stepping away from Pakistan duties following the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
The IPL mini-auction is separately scheduled for December 16 in Goa, which could be relevant for several players who have registered for the APL draft, particularly those with IPL eligibility. Whether Amir’s England-issued passport creates a specific opening in the IPL, as it did for Azhar Mahmood, is yet to be determined, but his Platinum category standing in the APL draft confirms that franchise administrators regard him as a high-value signing option.
