Pakistani Refugee in Australian Cricket Team
Australia included Fawad Ahmed as the spin specialist of the squad. Fawad, a former refugee, was born in Pakistan. He is included in the team for Australia's one day and T20 series against England.
Australia is going to play a couple of T20 matches and 6 ODIs against England in the upcoming series. Fawad, 31, received the Australian citizenship as there had been a law-change in July 2013. The spinner has impressed selectors during the A tour to South Africa and Zimbabwe. His performances with the ball were worthy enough to select him for the Australian cricket team.
This is a comparatively young team of Australia, which is still in its development stage. There are several promising newcomers who are getting more mature with every new game played. Australia has never been among the top nations to produce spin bowlers. Therefore, the team is apparently depending a lot on the Asian fingers of Fawad.
Fawad is going to be the lead spinner of the team replacing Xavier Doherty. Doherty was the lead spinner in the team when it played the ICC Champions Trophy in June. Doherty must be disappointed but he is not out of the question to be selected in the October tour to India.
The selectors are keen to know how Fawad fares on the international area. His leg spinning skills will be tested shortly as England batsmen seem to be in a great form. Alastair Cook, the English captain, played Indian spinners exceedingly well when he went for the India series. If Fawad shows promise, he may also be selected for the test squad. Australia is already 3-0 down in the 4 test series in the Ashes against England.
Australia squad (ODI & T20)
Fawad Ahmed, David Warner, George Bailey, Michael Clarke (C), Aaron Finch, James Faulkner, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Phil Hughes, Shaun Marsh, Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, Clint McKay, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood.