Mohammad Amir MS Dhoni for CSK. Image Credits: ChatGPT
In a significant development, former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been granted British citizenship and has received a British passport. Amir has finally received the United Kingdom passport after completing all legal requirements after years late.
Moreover, Mohammad Amir’s wife, Narjis Khan, is already a British citizen, which reportedly supports the process of his settlement in the UK.
How does Mohammad Amir’s British passport make him eligible to play in IPL?
The prospect of India-Pakistan players playing together came to an abrupt end after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The attacks, carried out by a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation, shook India to its core and brought the two nations to the brink of war.
In the aftermath, Pakistani players were banned from participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a restriction that had remained in place for the last 18 editions of the tournament.
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It is worth noting that the last cricketer from Pakistan to feature in the tournament was all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who played in the league between 2012 and 2015, although he did so after entering the auction as an English player.
More significantly, Mahmood did not enter the league as a Pakistani player. After moving to the United Kingdom and obtaining a British Passport, he registered for the IPL auction as an English player only.
In a very similar manner, as a British citizen, Mohammad Amir is now eligible to participate in franchise leagues that restrict Pakistani players, namely the IPL. On top of that, the former Pakistani pacer had publicly expressed his desire to play in the Indian T20 league over Pakistan’s PSL.
IPL Teams that can target Mohammad Amir in IPL 2027
Amir is widely regarded as one of the most skilled and naturally gifted T20 bowlers, celebrated for his lethal new-ball swing, pinpoint yorkers, and miserly economy rates. Over his career, he has built a massive T20 footprint, notably surpassing the 400-wicket mark.
In his prime, Amir was arguably the best in the world at swinging the cricket ball at high speeds, often 140+ km/h. As he matured, particularly in franchise leagues, he evolved into an incredibly smart T20 operator.
His specialised skills have made him a highly sought-after player worldwide, with successful stints in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
That being said, in this article, let’s explore three IPL franchises that can go for the Pakistani legend in the IPL 2027 auction.
3. Punjab Kings (PBKS)
The Punjab Kings' pace bowling department is spearheaded by left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh and international stars like Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, and Xavier Bartlett for the IPL 2026.
Also read: Pakistan Cricket Team Schedule After PSL 2026
They have had a disastrous IPL 2026 campaign, ranking statistically as the worst in the tournament, with an overall economy rate exceeding 10.5 runs per over.
The pace attack has struggled to take wickets and leak runs, frequently conceding totals of 200+ and contributing heavily to the team's playoff struggles.
Notably, Arshdeep, with a season economy of 9.78, Marco Jansen (10.38), and Xavier Bartlett (11.58) have deeply disappointed throughout the season.
Thus, if given the opportunity, the Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings could look to acquire the services of Mohammad Amir.
2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Chennai Super Kings' pace department in the 19th edition of the IPL has been a tale of two extremes: highly effective in the powerplay and middle overs, but severely leaking runs at the death.
The franchise has struggled to find a reliable "enforcer" for the slog overs since letting go of Matheesha Pathirana. The reliance on wide yorkers at the death has occasionally backfired, resulting in costly overs when executed with narrow margins.
Only Anshul Kamboj has been consistent for them, emerging as one of the leading wicket-takers of the 2026 season with 19 wickets in 12 matches. Initially, Jamie Overton, the much-needed provider of pace and control, and Khaleel Ahmed were ruled out for the business end of the season.
Thus, Mohammad Amir's ‘hypothetical’ inclusion would significantly bolster Chennai Super Kings' bowling attack for IPL 2027 by providing an elite left-arm pace option and crucial powerplay control.
1. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Another pace bowling department that has been one of the weakest in the IPL 2026 is KKR. Struggling heavily with wicket-taking and run containment in the death overs.
The attack's performance has been compromised by severe injury setbacks, forcing an over-reliance on its world-class spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine.
Thus, Amir is highly proficient at moving the new ball, which could provide KKR with early breakthroughs.
On top of that, as a genuine left-arm fast bowler, Amir could be a like-for-like replacement of Mustafizur Rahman, who was acquired by the three-time IPL winners in the 2026 auction for a whopping ₹9.20 crore. However, he was banned from playing due to geopolitical tensions and security concerns stemming from civil unrest and the political fallout in Bangladesh.
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