LAHORE — Pakistan’s cricket chief said Saturday that a row over the inclusion of tainted paceman Mohammad Amir in a training camp had been resolved and the two objecting players had returned.
Former Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez and current one-day captain Azhar Ali had boycotted the camp Thursday, refusing to train alongside Amir, who was jailed in 2011 for spot-fixing.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan said Hafeez and Ali had now joined the camp.
“The matter has been resolved,” Khan told reporters.
“Both listened to me and agreed to join the camp unconditionally and will have to support Amir when he returns to the team.”
The training camp is staged to select the squad for next month’s tour of New Zealand where Pakistan play three one-day and as many Twenty20 Internationals.
Hafeez, who in November spoke publicly against Amir, said he forgave him but was sticking to principle.
“My stance was based on principle and it was portrayed in a wrong sense,” Hafeez told reporters.
“My stance is the same against all players who stained Pakistan’s image through corruption.
“It’s my right to raise my voice, which I did, and I will do everything in my capacity to fight corruption,” said Hafeez.
“My stance is that all corrupt players should not be given another chance to represent Pakistan.”
Since Amir’s return, he has taken 22 wickets in four non first-class games, while his tally of wickets in the qualifying rounds of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy stood at 34.
He also took 14 wickets in 11 Bangladesh premier league matches, forcing the selectors to chose him for the camp.
The Pakistan players are training ahead of the national side’s upcoming tour of New Zealand, where they will play three One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 matches.
Butt and Asif will feature in the national one-day tournament next month, their first appearance in domestic matches since their ban expired.
PCB had given them a rehabilitation program to undergo before qualifying for national selection — a process Amir has already completed.
Afghanistan beats Zimbabwe
Afghanistan bowled out Zimbabwe for a paltry 82 to win the first One-Day International by 49 runs Friday.
Afghanistan had been dismissed for just 131 with more than 10 overs to spare in the first game of the five-match series with opener Noor Ali Zadran top scoring with 63.
Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer claimed 5-20.
But Zimbabwe then lost its last seven wickets for just 35 runs to be bowled out in the 31st over.
Afghanistan off-spinner Amir Hamza was the pick of the bowlers with 4-17 having been handed the new ball.
Only three Zimbabwe batsmen reached double figures with captain Elton Chigumbura top-scoring on 28.
The second game of the series takes place at the same venue on Tuesday. — Agencies
