Cricket Australia (CA) has said that it hopes for changes in the Citizenship Act by next month that will allow leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed to play his first Ashes Test in England.
The Pakistan-born spinner will have to wait for applying for a passport until any legislation change takes place in the four sitting weeks of parliamentary session before the election and the cricket series begins, News.com.au reports.
According to the report, the 16-member squad includes off-spinner Nathan Lyon, but selectors have assured that the squad can have another spinner, and as Ahmed is backed by many supporters, he is the falvour of the season for now.
The citizenship legislation is expected to be passed next month, but Ahmed will have to wait until August or the fifth Test at The Oval for a possible opportunity to play.
Chairman of selectors John Inverarity said that Ahmed is a very good leg spinner and there is always a possibility of adding him to the Ashes squad.