The former Pakistan star will play the full T20 blast group stage with Essex, with potential for more.
The 33-year-old left-armer, a veteran of 322 T20 matches worldwide, will return to Chelmsford for the 2025 campaign, six years after his last stint with the county. Amir previously represented Essex between 2017 and 2019 and will be available for the entire group stage of this year’s tournament, with an option to extend into the knockout rounds if Essex progress.
“I am very excited to join Essex once again,” said Amir. “I have always enjoyed my time at this club where I feel at home, and the love I received from the team and the amazing supporters was overwhelming.”
His signing is a significant coup for Essex, who are seeking to build on their recent domestic white-ball momentum. The club’s director of cricket, Chris Silverwood, expressed confidence in the impact Amir can make.
Embed from Getty Images“I know the experience and skillset he brings having worked with him here before,” said Silverwood. “He will certainly strengthen what is an already strong squad for our T20 Blast campaign this season.”
Amir, who played five matches for Derbyshire in the 2024 T20 Blast, brings a wealth of international and franchise experience to Essex’s setup. Across his storied career, he has collected 371 wickets in the T20 format alone, known for his precision at the death and clever variations with the new ball.
A former spearhead of Pakistan’s pace attack, Amir took 119 wickets in just 36 Test matches, with additional stints in 61 ODIs and 62 T20 internationals. Although he retired from international cricket in 2020 citing issues with Pakistan’s cricket board, he has remained an active figure in global franchise cricket.
Most recently, he featured for the Quetta Gladiators in the 2025 Pakistan Super League, where he showed glimpses of the control and aggression that once made him one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket.
His arrival adds international calibre to an Essex side already rich with T20 talent. With the club aiming to make a serious run in this year’s competition, Amir’s signing signals their intent.
Essex are scheduled to begin their 2025 Blast campaign away to Hampshire Hawks on 30 May. With a full season of group-stage cricket from Amir guaranteed, and potential availability for the knockout phase, Essex fans will be hopeful that his return could power them towards silverware.
