'Don’t mistake wealth for respect' - Ramiz Raja takes a dig at Mohammad Amir for announcing retirement

Pakistan’s veteran left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir left the cricket fraternity baffled with his sudden decision of taking retirement from all three formats of the game. Though Amir will be participating in the domestic leagues across the world, he will never be seen representing Pakistan in Green again. This decision came after the pacer was overlooked for the Pakistan tour of New Zealand.

On Thursday, Amir had claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) mentally tortured him after he decided to take retirement from the purest format of the game last year. However, this statement by the seamer didn’t go well with the former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja who took a jibe on Amir saying that one should not mistake wealth for respect.

“Right now I am leaving cricket. I am being mentally tortured. I don’t think, I will be able to handle this kind of torture because I have been tortured a lot from 2010 to 2015,” Amir had said in a video released by Khel Shel.

PCB release an official statement

Following this the Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Wasim Khan had a chat with Amir where the latter revealed that he has no intention of donning the Green jersey again in the near future. However, PCB refused to comment on the accusations made by the left-arm seamer.

“The 28-year-old confirmed to the PCB chief executive that he has no desires or intensions of playing international cricket and as such, he should not be considered for future international matches. This is a personal decision of Mohammad Amir, which the PCB respects, and as such, will not make any further comment on this matter at this stage,” the statement read.

Reacting to the news of Amir’s retirement, Ramiz Raja said via his official Twitter handle that though it is a sad exit of a superstar, it is also a lesson for the younger generation that they should never let success get into their heads. In this tiff between PCB and Amir, Raja visibly supported the former as he held the pacer responsible for not completing his responsibilities.

“Mohammad Amir retires. Sad untimely exit of a potential super star! And a lesson for aspiring youth: Respect your talent and understand your responsibilities. Don’t mistake wealth for respect. Respect is earned by having a strong character and not by worldly glitzy shit!” Ramiz Raja tweeted.

Mohammad Amir retires. Sad untimely exit of a potential super star! And a lesson for aspiring youth: Respect your talent and understand your responsibilities. Don’t mistake wealth for respect. Respect is earned by having a strong character and not by worldly glitzy shit!

— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) December 17, 2020