Hafeez, Azhar boycott national camp due to Amir”s inclusion: Pakistan ODI captain Azhar Ali and former T20 International skipper Mohammad Hafeez have refused to join national training camp in Lahore due to the presence of Mohammad Amir.
Amir has recently returned to cricket after completing a five-year ban as he along with Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt was caught spot-fixing in a Test match against England at Lord’s in 2010.
The camp in Lahore is a preparatory to Pakistan”s tour of New Zealand that will start in January 2016. The now 23-year-old Amir was picked in the 26-man squad to train in this camp.
Azhar Ali: “I will not attend the camp as long as Amir is there,” Ali told reporters in Lahore. Hafeez and I can”t accept Amir”s presence in the camp. We are firm on our stance but are ready to talk to officials.”
Mohammad Hafeez was offered 10 million rupees to play for Chittagong Vikings franchise in Bangladesh Premier League. But the Pakistani opener has turned it down as Amir was part of the team. “It is not about individuals or any personality clash. It is about the image of Pakistan cricket. I cannot play with any player who has tarnished and brought a bad name to the country,” said Hafeez.
While there were indications that the left-arm pacer could be included in the Pakistan squad for the New Zealand tour, senior players turning their back might result in a change of plans.
Former Pakistani cricketers Ramiz Raja, Rashid Latif and Mohsin Khan have been very critical about the trio – Amir, Asif, Butt, would not like to see them back play again. On the other hand Pakistan coach Waqar Younis insisted on giving Amir a second chance.
Waqar Younis says: “I have given a thumbs up to the Pakistan Cricket Board and the selectors that if PCB want to pick Mohammad Amir then it is fine with me and I have no issues with that”.
