Hafeez, Azhar boycott Pakistan camp over Amir’s inclusion

Pakistani One Day International Team captain Azhar Ali and premier batsman Mohammad Hafeez on Thursday has boycotted the training camp for New Zealand Tour, Capital TV reported.

Mohammad Yousuf said that PCB should pull out Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali from national team if they do not want to play with Mohammad Amir.

Last week, Amir was named in a 26-member squad for a conditioning camp in Lahore ahead of the New Zealand tour.

Azhar was more direct. “I will not attend the camp as long as Amir is there”, he said.

Amir was earlier denied an English visa past year, and the PCB thinks that his chances of getting one for New Zealand are bleak.

The team manager told the website: “Both are not joining the training camp today apparently because of Mohammad Amir”.

His team-mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were also convicted of match fixing.

“But we are willing to discuss the matter with only the PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan”, Azhar said.

Amir served three months in jail for his role in the 2010 spot-fixing case, and Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) rule against granting visas to individuals with criminal convictions presents a hurdle to his re-introduction to worldwide cricket. Accordingly, Amir has been called to the fitness camp which will enable him to bond with national players.

But in September this year the International Cricket Council lifted sanctions against the three players.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stated that Mohammad Amir is eligible for national selection after having completed the rehabilitation and re-education programme of the board.

The statement added: “There are a few players and commentators who are opposed to his selection”.

The country’s cricket board further insisted that the left-hander had cooperated with multiple investigations and said that Amir was 19 years old when he was indicted. He has also performed well in the BPL.