Chances of former Pakistani asylum-seeker Fawad Ahmed to represent Australia in international cricket competitions have just improved dramatically as the bill to amend the Citizenship Act passes Australia parliament's lower house on Wednesday.

The Citizenship Act, which is still scheduled to go through the upper house, will help expedite Ahmed's application for citizenship and will enable him to start playing for the national team, known as the Ashes.

Ahmed, 31, has just broken into the Australia A selection and is scheduled to play next month against England.

"Fawad is a spin bowler of interest and we look forward to seeing how he performs for Australia A," said John Inverarity, the Ashes' chief selector. Mr. Inverarity was confident that Ahmed would soon get his citizenship.

If passed into law, Australia's immigration minister will be empowered to impose shorter residency requirements on select citizenship applications. This is particularly relevant in cases where applicants have exceptional abilities, like Ahmed, who can represent the country in global competitions.

If things will be based on the current International Cricket Council's Player Eligibility Criteria, Ahmed will only get his eligibility to play for the national team on August 18.

But should the CA become a law and Ahmed gets his citizenship and Australian passport earlier than August 18, he will immediately be part of the national team.

The Ashes are set to play in the opening test taking place on July 10 in Nottingham.

Ahmed is slated to leave this weekend for Britain and is expected to figure in the tour matches of Australia A against Ireland from June 14 through 17 and against Gloucestershire from June 21 through 23.

"I am very happy. It is a great opportunity for me to prove myself for Australia A in overseas conditions," the 31-year-old spin bowler said.

"I am grateful to Cricket Australia and the national selection panel for this chance, and I will do my best to repay their faith in me."

Ahmed's potential to play for the national team has been praised by leg spinner Shane Warne. He believes the new recruit has the capacity to become an asset to the team and an unlikely hero.

"I wish him all the best and I really hope all the documentation goes through because I think he could be a real surprise element for Australia," Warne told the BBC.

"He's got that surprise element and he doesn't get flustered about anything. I think he could be very good for Australia."

Ahmed, who was given a permanent visa in November, escaped from his place near the border of Afghanistan as he was being targeted by some Muslim extremists.

He grabbed the attention of Australian selectors by netting 16 wickets at 28.27 in his three Sheffield Shield games for Victoria.