Mohammad Amir has entered a new phase of his franchise cricket career.

The former Pakistan left-arm fast bowler acquired British citizenship in May 2026 and has now registered for the Afghanistan Premier League draft as a UK national. He has been placed in the top Platinum category.

His new status immediately sparked a bigger question: could a British passport open the door to the Indian Premier League?

There is one important update, however. Reports linking Amir with the IPL 2027 mini-auction were later denied by Amir himself, who said the news was not true.

Amir Enters the APL as a UK National

The 34-year-old currently lives in England and has already started playing English domestic cricket as a local player after obtaining British citizenship.

For the Afghanistan Premier League draft, Amir has been listed as a UK national, while Pakistan remains connected to his cricketing identity. He has been placed in the Platinum category, the highest tier in the draft. The selection event is scheduled for November 3 in Dubai.

That registration triggered speculation about whether the same status could eventually help him enter the IPL.

The Azhar Mahmood Precedent

The biggest precedent is former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood.

Born in Pakistan, Mahmood later became a British citizen and played in the IPL between 2012 and 2015 for Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders.

That history led to speculation that Amir could potentially follow a similar route.

The IPL 2027 mini-auction is scheduled for December 16 in Goa. However, Amir has now publicly denied reports that he is entering the auction, meaning his participation cannot currently be treated as confirmed.

A Different Situation for Pakistan Players

More than 30 Pakistani cricketers have registered for the Afghanistan Premier League draft, including Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim.

Their participation, however, is dependent on receiving No-Objection Certificates from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board's draft register explicitly states that the participation of Pakistan players is subject to PCB clearance. A PCB spokesperson also indicated that the board was not optimistic about granting those NOCs amid the current tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Amir's case is different because he is now entering the draft as a British national.

Indian Names in the APL Draft

Several familiar Indian names are also part of the draft.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat, all-rounder Vijay Shankar and off-spinner Murugan Ashwin have registered. All three have retired from all forms of cricket, including the IPL.

The draft also includes several Indian-origin players representing other countries, including Unmukt Chand of the United States, Ayaan Khan of Oman, and UAE-based players Rahul Chopra, Akshdeep Nath, Alishan Sharafu, Aryan Afzal Khan and Dhruv Parashar. Kenya's Vraj Patel and Kuwait's Yasin Patel are also included.

What Comes Next for Amir?

Amir played 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 62 T20Is for Pakistan. His final international appearance came against Ireland at the 2024 T20 World Cup.

He has continued to attract interest in franchise cricket thanks to his left-arm pace, new-ball swing and extensive experience.

His British citizenship has undoubtedly created new possibilities in his post-Pakistan career, and his Platinum status in the APL draft is evidence of his continued value in franchise cricket.

But as far as the IPL is concerned, the latest position is clear:

Amir's British passport sparked the speculation, but Amir himself has denied the reports linking him with the IPL 2027 auction.