WELLINGTON — Fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who spent time in jail and served a five-year ban for spot-fixing, has been granted a visa to travel to New Zealand for Pakistan’s limited overs matches later this month, immigration officials said Thursday.
The 23-year-old was considered one of the most exciting fast bowlers in the world before the 2010 spot-fixing scandal that resulted in bans and jail sentences for him, former Test captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif.
The trio were cleared to return to the sport by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in September after serving suspensions.
“Immigration New Zealand (INZ) can confirm that a visitor visa has been approved for Mohammad Amir to travel as part of the Pakistan Cricket Team set to tour New Zealand this month,” INZ Area Manager Michael Carley said in a statement.
“In making this decision, INZ considered factors including the support of the New Zealand and Pakistan Cricket Board and that Mr Amir had served his sentence for his previous actions.
“Taking into account all the circumstances and with full understanding of the purpose of his visit, a visa has been approved for Mr Amir.”
The left-arm fast bowler’s inclusion in a 26-man training squad for the tour had caused some controversy within the Pakistan ranks, with one-day captain Azhar Ali offering to resign.
The Pakistan Cricket Board rejected Azhar’s resignation, though another member of the team, Mohammad Hafeez, had also expressed reservations about playing with Amir.
Pakistan plays three Twenty20 Internationals and three one-day matches on the tour, which starts on Jan. 15.
Pakistan extends Waqar’s contract
Pakistan announced Thursday its national team’s head coach Waqar Younis will fulfil his responsibilities until the end of England’s tour later this year.
Waqar’s two-year contract expires in May this year, but Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said his team management will continue until September.
“We have not taken a final decision on the contracts of the team management but Waqar and other staff will continue until the end of Pakistan’s tour of England,” Khan said.
Pakistan plays four Tests, five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 on the tour which starts from June 29. After two warm-up games the first Test starts at Lord’s from July 14.
Waqar took over as head coach in June 2013, and under him Pakistan has lost six of its nine one-day series.
It has shown improvement in Tests, however, winning four of its six series, losing one and drawing the other.
The tour will be Pakistan’s first to England since its infamous tour in 2010 when three of its players — then Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir — were charged for spot-fixing during the Lord’s Test.
