Mohammad Amir gets backing of Pakistan T20 captain Afridi

Mohammad Amir is part of Pakistani squad for Upcoming tour to Kiwi land in which Pakistan will play 3 T20s and 3 One Day Internationals (ODIs).

New Zealand immigration officials considered withholding Amir’s visa on character grounds, but chose to allow him to enter the country, taking into account his completed suspension and his support from the Pakistan and New Zealand cricket boards.

Before the spot-fixing scandal, which also involved Amir’s captain Salman Butt and fellow Pakistan bowler Mohammad Asif, Amir was regarded as the hottest property in worldwide cricket.

Speculations were raised about the left-arm pacer being denied a visa given that he was a convict in a criminal offence, against which the immigration authority has strong reservations.

But Afridi said that this journalist had given negative news about Afridi in the past as well and in United Arab Emirates (UAE), he had broken the news that Afridi makes the youngsters polish his shoes and Afridi is like a dictator in the team.

Amir was given a six-month jail sentence, half of which he served at a Young Offenders’ Institute, before he was released in February 2012.

“These are matters that can be sorted out and I don’t think we need to dwell into them more”, Shaharyar said.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman also confirmed that the visa had been approved.

One-day captain Azhar Ali and batsman Mohammad Hafeez boycotted a recent training camp in protest at his inclusion.

“We have been given the clearance to select Amir for the New Zealand tour”, said Haroon, adding: “Unfortunately though, we aren’t yet sure about his visa due to the ongoing Christmas and New Year vacations”.

The three-match series against New Zealand will be Pakistan’s last global series before the World Twenty20 in March.