KARACHI: While the road to first-class cricket on the domestic front starts from Monday with 23 outfits vying to clinch the Patron’s Trophy title, focus will centre on two men with contrasting backgrounds — Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Amir.

Ajmal, the wily Pakistan off-spinner who has been out of international cricket since August 2014 after being banned for illegal bowling action, returns — upon being cleared by the game’s governing body last month — has been signed by Candyland but the 37-year-old will not be seen in action in the opening-round Pool ‘C’ fixture against Railways at the Ittefaq Cricket Ground in Lahore.

According to Basalat Mirza, sports officer of Candyland, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not granted permission to Ajmal since he is on the payroll of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), the departmental side with first-class status.

“We are trying to get the NOC [no objection certificate] from Saeed’s employers [who are ZTBL] so that he could play for Candyland in the Patron’s Trophy to try out his remodelled bowling action,” Basalat told Dawn from Lahore on Sunday night. “Hopefully, the matter will be resolved before our second match against [debutants] Asim Textile and Saeed will be available to play.”

Ajmal, who was forced to sit out the ongoing World Cup since was undergoing remedial measures to overcome the problems that almost ended his playing career, is determined to win back his Pakistan spot, according to Basalat.

“The reason he wanted to play in the Patron’s Trophy is quite simple: Saeed wants to regain his place in the national team. If all goes well as planned, I’m sure the world of cricket will welcome him with open arms,” Basalat added.

Meanwhile, Amir is all set to appear in his first competitive match after the International Cricket Council upheld a PCB plea to pardon the 22-year-old left-arm fast bowler before the Sept 2, 2015 deadline. Amir was slapped with a five-year fixing ban in 2010 for his role in the infamous Lord’s Test spot-fixing saga in August that year.

The road to redemption starts for Amir — one of three players [others being the then Pakistan captain Salman Butt and paceman Mohammad Asif] banned from the game following that England Test — as he prepares to represent Omar Associates in their Group ‘B’ clash against Pakistan Army at the latter’s home ground in Rawalpindi.

The 23 teams have been divided into four pools with Omar Associates’ group featuring five teams. The pool champions will qualify for the semi-finals to be played from March 30 to April 1. The winners of the April 4-7 final will be promoted to the Silver League tier of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship for next season.

First-round schedule (March 9-11):

Pakistan Navy vs K-Electric (RLCA Ground Gulberg, Karachi); Pakistan Customs vs Sindh Police (NBP Sports Complex, Karachi); Medicam vs Pak Saudi International (UBL Sports Complex, Karachi); Pakistan Army vs Omar Associates (Army Cricket Ground, Rawalpindi); Humak Engineering vs Nadra (Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad); Karachi Port Trust vs Brighto Paints (Sheikhupura Stadium, Sheikhupura); Asim Textile vs PTBB (Country Club Ground, Muridke); Candyland vs Railways (Ittefaq Cricket Ground, Lahore); Service Industries vs Income Tax (Stags Ground Model Town, Lahore); Khayaban-e-Amin vs HEC (Khayaban-e-Amin Ground, Lahore); Dollar East vs Face Fresh (LCCA Ground, Lahore).

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2015

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