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Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has joined Desert Vipers for the upcoming edition of ILT20 2024, which means the fast bowler won't be available in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Amir was bound to play for Fortune Barishal in this year's BPL, he was roped in the team as a direct signing months before the tournament. However, the star bowler has opted to participate in ILT20 instead of BPL. 

Amir was overjoyed to join the runners-up Vipers and said he was looking forward to making the Vipers a top side in the upcoming season.

"The dressing room has some very talented and experienced players like Alex Hales, Colin Munro and Sheldon Cottrell, and some exciting new faces, and I am really looking forward to playing with my fellow Pakistanis Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Azam Khan," he said in the release.

"I always enjoy playing in the UAE because the cricket fans always support Pakistan players and cheer us on. I know the local conditions as I have played a lot of cricket there, so that will be an advantage for me. I cannot wait to come to Dubai, and meet the team and all the amazing coaching staff, including Carl Crowe, who I worked with in the T10 tournament last month,"

Barishal already added Nuwan Thushara as the replacement of the Pakistan bowler. They also signed South Africa swashbuckling batter David Miller for the season.

The 10th edition of BPL is set to kick off on January 19 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur with a high-voltage encounter between the star-studded Comilla Victorians and Durdanto Dhaka.