Victoria’s Fawad Ahmed will play for Australia on Ashes tour if his citizenship is granted in time.
Victoria spin bowler Fawad Ahmed has been having quite the season in Australia this year.
Ahmed’s side beat Queensland by eight wickets in their last match – taking them top of the Sheffield Shield table – with the spinner taking five victims.
Ahmed came to Australia from Pakistan in 2010 and impressed immediately with his leg-break technique. The bowler would be eligible to play for Australia after 18 August, as he will have spent enough time in the country to qualify for citizenship.
However, Cricket Australia are keen for Ahmed to be granted his passport as soon as possible, so that he would be able to play for the national team on the Ashes tour of England.
There is a clause in Australian law that states that exceptional athletes can have their claim for citizenship brought forward – something that has mostly been used for Olympic competitors.
If Ahmed shows that he is ready for Test cricket with his performances, he too could have his bid for an Australian passport brought forward.
His captain at Victoria and former Australian international, Cameron White, has no doubts over Ahmed’s readiness.
“He’s one of the better leg spinners – if not the best – I’ve seen in first class cricket outside of [Stuart] MacGill and [Shane] Warne,” White was quoted on ESPN.
Fawad Ahmed is not short of admirers in Australia, and England should keep an eye on the spinner, because, if all goes to plan, he will be flying over this summer to take them on in the Ashes.
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