Mohammad Amir has received his first Pakistan call-up since completing a five-year ban for spot-fixing.
The 23-year-old, who also served time in prison in the UK for the deliberate bowling of no-balls during the 2010 series against England, has been named in his country’s Twenty20 squad to tour New Zealand.
Amir’s selection, which was announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board, is subject to the fast bowler being granted a visa to enter New Zealand.
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The series begins on January 15 with the first of three T20 internationals before the sides play three one-day matches.
Azhar Ali was confirmed as captain of the ODI squad just days after his resignation was rejected by the PCB. Azhar was said to be unhappy with the presence of Amir in the national team training group.
“While picking the squads, the team management and skippers of each of the two formats were consulted by the selectors, and all concerned gave their consent in this regard,” the head of the selection committee Haroon Rashid said.
Mohammad Amir officially returns to the Pakistan team but subject to grant of visa, Imad Wasim and Asad Shafiq also back in the ODI side
— Nabeel Hashmi (@HashmeNabeel) January 1, 2016
Amir named in the T20 squad as well for Tour of New Zealand. Iftikhar Ahmad called up while Saad Nasim returns. Irfan dropped for Umar Gul
— Nabeel Hashmi (@HashmeNabeel) January 1, 2016
“With the ICC World T20 slated for March-April 2016, the T20 team has been selected with a view to provide opportunities to everyone likely to feature in the squad for the global event.
“The team is a fine blend of experience and youth and the selectors believe that it would acquit itself well on the tour.”
Amir was released from a young offenders’ institution in Weymouth in February 2012 after serving half of a six-month jail sentence for spot-fixing. He had pleaded guilty to intentionally bowling two no-balls at Southwark Crown Court in 2011.
