Image: Mohammad Amir recently declared that the ILT20 is the toughest league he's played in / © India.com
After retiring from the Pakistan national team, Mohammad Amir has continued to play in several global T20 leagues. Recently, he made a bold statement claiming the ILT20 (International League T20) as the toughest league he’s participated in. Amir, who has also played in prominent leagues like the PSL, IPL, CPL, and T20 Blast, highlighted the depth in batting lineups as one reason why ILT20 stands out.
He pointed out an instance during last year’s season when Dubai Capitals, despite being 7 wickets down, managed to fight back with lower-order batsmen like Rovman Powell and Jason Holder, which he believes is rare in other leagues. He said:
Last year, we were playing against the Dubai Capitals, and they were 7 wickets down. They needed 30 runs in three overs, and Rovman Powell and Jason Holder were batting at numbers 8 and 9. Normally, this doesn’t happen. In most other leagues, if you get the top 5-6 batters out, you usually win the match, but that’s not the case here. That’s why, as a bowler, I feel this is the toughest league in the world.
Representing Desert Vipers in ILT20, Amir expressed how much he enjoys the environment of the league, calling it the most relaxed yet challenging. Heading into the 2025 season, Amir is optimistic about the Vipers’ chances, citing a solid team combination and a strong mix of all-rounders, spinners, and fast bowlers like Hasaranga and Sowter.