Disgraced Amir earns Pak recall after five-year ban

Karachi : Disgraced fast-bowler Mohammad Amir, who served a prison sentence and lengthy ban for his role in the 2010 spot fixing scandal, have been recalled in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming ODI and Twenty20 series against New Zealand.

With Amir’s return in the T20 squad, Pakistan selectors have excluded towering paceman Mohammad Irfan from the team.

Meanwhile, Azhar Ali, who had earlier appealed for resignation as the ODI skipper due to Amir’s inclusion in the 26-member training camp for the forthcoming series, has also been named in the one-day team, ESPNcricinfo reported.

Considered as one of the most promising talents, Amir had taken 51 wickets in 14 Tests and 25 in 15 one-day internationals before he was handed a five-year ban for bowling deliberate no-balls by pre-arrangement during the fourth test against England at Lord’s in 2010.

Pakistan will play three-match ODIs and three-match T20s starting from January 15.

Pakistan ODI squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sohaib Maqsood, Zafar Gohar, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed, Wahab Raiz, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir.

T20 squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Aamer Yamin, Sarfraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Mohammad Rizwan, Saad Nasim, Mohammad Amir.(ANI)