Mohammad Amir gets British passport and becomes IPL eligible — Can BCCI clear him for IPL 2027 auction?

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has now officially become eligible to register for the IPL after receiving British citizenship and a UK passport. Amir, who was never allowed to play in the IPL earlier because he held a Pakistani passport, can now technically enter the IPL auction as a British player. This major development has created huge discussions among cricket fans ahead of IPL 2027.

According to reports, Amir recently completed all legal requirements to receive British citizenship. The former Pakistan pacer has already played franchise cricket in leagues like The Hundred and is now eligible to register under England’s category in overseas leagues. Since IPL restrictions mainly apply to players holding Pakistani passports, Amir’s new citizenship has changed his eligibility status completely.

From Pakistani passport ban to British citizen — How Mohammad Amir finally unlocked the door to IPL eligibility

Pakistan players have not been allowed to play in the IPL since the 2008 season due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. After the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, the Indian government and the BCCI stopped Pakistani cricketers from participating in the tournament. Since Amir represented Pakistan internationally and carried a Pakistani passport, he remained ineligible for the IPL for many years.

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Now things have changed because Amir officially holds a British passport. IPL auction rules require players to submit official international documents, and Amir can now register himself as a British citizen instead of a Pakistani player. Earlier, former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood also played in the IPL after getting British citizenship and represented Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders.

Amir has also remained active in franchise cricket over the years and recently featured in PSL 2026 for Rawalpindi. He retired from international cricket for the second time in December 2024 and is currently working as a cricket analyst on Geo News shows like “Haarna Mana Hai” and “Hasna Mana Hai.”

Spot-fixing ban, geopolitical barriers, Pakistani passport — Why Amir could never play IPL and what changed now

Apart from political restrictions, Amir’s cricket career was also affected by the 2010 spot-fixing scandal during Pakistan’s tour of England. The controversy led to a long ban from cricket before he returned after the suspension ended in 2015. Because of the ban and his Pakistani nationality, Amir’s chances of playing in the IPL completely disappeared for many years.

Now, however, Amir has no active ICC disciplinary ban and is legally allowed to participate in franchise leagues around the world. His experience in T20 cricket and ability to perform in pressure situations still make him an attractive option for many teams. Some fans have even suggested that Royal Challengers Bengaluru could show interest because Amir has openly admired Virat Kohli in the past.

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Still, before entering the IPL, Amir’s name would first need to appear in the auction shortlist for IPL 2027. Even if he becomes part of the auction pool, there is no guarantee that any franchise will bid for him because of the political sensitivity around Pakistan-born cricketers in Indian cricket.

Legally eligible but practically impossible — Why BCCI and Indian sentiment make Amir's IPL 2027 dream almost unreachable

Although Mohammad Amir is now legally eligible for the IPL, the prospect of actually playing still looks very slim. The IPL is run by the BCCI under Indian government rules, and political relations between India and Pakistan remain sensitive.

Because of this situation, many people feel IPL teams may avoid signing a Pakistan-born player even if he enters the auction as a British citizen. Recent political tensions have also made such decisions even more complicated.

Still, Amir can officially submit his name for the IPL 2027 auction as an overseas player from England. Whether any franchise decides to bid for him or not will remain the biggest question. For now, his British passport has made him legally eligible, but his actual IPL debut still looks uncertain.