Pakistan-born leg spinner Fawad Ahmed included in ODI squad for Australia

Fawad Ahmed is all set to make his ODI debut for Australia

Pakistan-born Australian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed has been named in Australia’s 18-member ODI squad which will play against England after the conclusion of the ongoing Ashes Test series in England.

Ahmed, who received his fast-tracked Australian citizenship in July this year following his arrival to the island nation as an asylum seeker back in 2010, played 10 first-class matches over four years in Pakistan before impressing for Victoria during the 2012-2013 season.

The 31-year-old’s citizenship was granted in a dash in order to make him available for the ongoing Ashes series but was ultimately left out of the squad.

The bowler was instead sent along with Australia’s A team for their tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe which saw India clinching the title in the tri-series on Wednesday. Although Ahmed managed to gather just two wickets in the five ODIs, the selectors believe he has more potential.

National selector John Inverarity was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo as saying, “Fawad Ahmed gets his opportunity as the squad’s lead spinner. Fawad has been a consistent wicket-taker on the Australia A tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa. He is a mature and very good leg-spin bowler and the national selection panel is keen to see how he fares in international competition … He has been bowling very well in South Africa and turning the ball and troubling the batsmen so we’re keen to have a look at him.”

The ODI tour against England will begin on September 3 with Michael Clarke leading the side and George Bailey as vice-captain. Apart from the skipper, Shane Watson, Steve Smith and David Warner will be the only other players from the Test side that lost the fourth Ashes Test match, to be included in the ODI squad.

Squad: Michael Clarke (captain), George Bailey (vice-captain), Fawad Ahmed, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazelwood, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Shane Watson.