Cricket Australia (CA) has announced the selection of former Pakistani asylum seeker Fawad Ahmed in the Australia A squad in England, pushing him a big step closer to playing the Ashes for Australia.
CA is confident that the legspinner's citizenship can be fast-tracked in time for the Ashes series after a bill to amend the Citizenship Act passed through the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Although the bill would still need to progress through the Senate, CA however, said that it appeared that there was enough support for it to soon become law.
According to national selection chief John Inverarity, Ahmed is a spin bowler of interest, adding that the CA is looking forward to seeing how he performs for Australia A.
Happy over his selection, Ahmed said that it will be a good opportunity for him to prove himself for Australia A in overseas conditions, adding that he will do his best to repay the faith that CA has shown in him.
The report further said that offspinner Nathan Lyon is the only spin bowler in Australia's Ashes squad, with the selectors leaving the door open for Ahmed and others to press claims.
The ICC's Player Eligibility Criteria does not apply to selection for national A teams, for which Ahmed is able to join the Australia A tour before the bill is finalised in the Senate, the report added.