Mohammad Amir granted visa to play in New Zealand
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WELLINGTON: Fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who spent time in jail and served a five-year ban for spot-fixing, has been granted a visa to travel to New Zealand for Pakistan's limited overs matches later this month, immigration officials said on Thursday.
The 23-year-old was considered one of the most exciting fast bowlers in the world before the 2010 spot-fixing scandal that resulted in bans and jail sentences for him, former Test captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif.
The trio were cleared to return to the sport by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in September after serving suspensions.
“Immigration New Zealand (INZ) can confirm that a visitor visa has been approved for Mohammad Amir to travel as part of the Pakistan Cricket Team set to tour New Zealand this month,” INZ Area Manager Michael Carley said in a statement.
“In making this decision, INZ considered factors including the support of the New Zealand and Pakistan Cricket Board and that Mr Amir had served his sentence for his previous actions.
“Taking into account all the circumstances and with full understanding of the purpose of his visit, a visa has been approved for Mr Amir.”
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman also confirmed that the visa had been approved. Amir said he was “delighted” at the news. “I can't wait to board the plane come Sunday,” he said.
The left-arm fast bowler's inclusion in a 26-man training squad for the tour had caused some controversy within the Pakistan ranks, with one-day captain Azhar Ali offering to resign.
The PCB rejected Azhar's resignation, though another member of the team, Mohammad Hafeez, had also expressed reservations about playing with Amir.
Meanwhile, when Amir was named in the Pakistan squad, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said he had no objections to facing Amir.
“He was a very young man at the time and I think he's gone through a sound rehabilitation programme and ultimately if he gets out on the field against us, then you play against the man you're playing against not a man who may have made some mistakes as a youngster,” he told Radio Sport.
Pakistan play three T20 and three one-day international matches on the tour, which starts on January 15.
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On DawnNews
Comments (74) Closed
Jan 07, 2016 08:59am
This is the news of the day!!!! Welcome back kiddo!!
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Jan 07, 2016 08:59am
Thank God. Amir's honesty has paid. Welcome back to international cricket!
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Jan 07, 2016 09:04am
Good....
Indeed gr8 news 4 Amir...
Best of Luck!
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Jan 07, 2016 09:05am
Well come on board! The selfish ones should mourn now.
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Jan 07, 2016 09:09am
WOW.....that's such a great news. I am glad NZ immigration staff showed some sense, unlike some in Pakistan cricketing community. Congrats to Amir and I hope he will show passion as well as humility on his way to redemption. Come on..............
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Jan 07, 2016 09:20am
Love you Amir and God less you.
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Jan 07, 2016 09:20am
All the best Amir
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Jan 07, 2016 09:20am
Brilliant. Now if they could do everyone a big favour and reject Hafeez's visa.
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Jan 07, 2016 09:20am
Amir should be delighted, as are his fans. It sounded very cruel to block him and finally PCB made a good decision by choosing the coolest country in the world for his first expedition. New Zealand rocks.
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Jan 07, 2016 09:25am
Awesome news for Pakistan and Amir, now let's drop Hafeez and Ali from the squad!
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Jan 07, 2016 09:29am
Having served his sentence he should be allowed to play.. That is absolutely fine.. But how can McCullum say that he should be given benefit of doubt.. He was convicted of a crime.. There is no doubt about it...
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Jan 07, 2016 09:40am
McCullum says benefit of doubt... What was the doubt in his conviction.... Amir should be allowed to play bcz he served his punishment...
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Jan 07, 2016 10:04am
Great news. Amir will be the greatest bowler of all time.
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Jan 07, 2016 10:04am
Wellcome aboard . Would love to see Aamir again in action on cricket field
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Jan 07, 2016 10:06am
He got a new chance..he has to prove himself, with performance and discipline.
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Jan 07, 2016 10:08am
I am happy
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Jan 07, 2016 10:12am
All the very best Amir
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Jan 07, 2016 10:17am
AlhamdoLillah. Can't wait to see u in action.
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Jan 07, 2016 10:20am
hurrrraaahhhhh!!!!
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Jan 07, 2016 10:23am
@Ali Dada hahaha I second that..
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Jan 07, 2016 10:30am
I hope he is able to live up to the hype and take wickets! I feel that thrusting him into international cricket so early could have disastrous consequences for his fledgling career if he doesn't perform.
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Jan 07, 2016 11:00am
awesome
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Jan 07, 2016 11:37am
I wellcome Aamir, but all these expecteation will damage Aamir a lot. he is not that much that can win matches second handedly, so please dont pin much hopes or expectation.
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Jan 07, 2016 11:38am
Amir do your magic
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Jan 07, 2016 11:38am
I am not happy with this news
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Jan 07, 2016 11:45am
...i could see Hafeez & his chum Azhar now declaring not to travel to any country giving visas to people who have tainted their country.. but they will go to Newzealand...
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Jan 07, 2016 12:02pm
Good News. Best of luck to Amir for a successful tour. Now bring Mohd Asif back.
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Jan 07, 2016 12:07pm
@Logic what he means is the doubt about is reformation. Will Amir make another mistake? give him the benefit of doubt he will hopefully not make the same mistake again
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Jan 07, 2016 12:10pm
5 wickets in first match! inshallah!
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Jan 07, 2016 12:40pm
wait till world t20 when india come into play
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Jan 07, 2016 12:52pm
Amir, now that the Newzealand Authorities have granted you the Visa please just concentrate on your cricket and get wickets. Good Luck
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Jan 07, 2016 12:53pm
Great news with lot of happiness for the cricket lovers.He is the best and will perform to his best and bring glory for the country and will be honest and disciplined. Important,NZ being one of the top most countries for human values and living standards has finally given a shut up call to the opponents of Aamir.
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Jan 07, 2016 12:54pm
@Ali Dada I agree with you.
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Jan 07, 2016 12:54pm
Lets hope that the Amir-bashers in his own country will take a lead from the Kiwis. The guy who admits his crime, serves the punishment and shares his experiences to save others from making the same mistake is FORGIVEN
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Jan 07, 2016 12:55pm
Bravo Mr. Amir ! Keep it up and concentrate only in playing the cricket game at your best. Do not listen or adhear to anybody while you are in the field or outside, mentain discpline and ignore criticisms as people around you are constantly watching with sharp eyes. All the best, hope year 2016 will be good and bright for your career as a player.
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Jan 07, 2016 12:56pm
Have a Big Smile on your faces ( Pro Aamir Fans including the PCB , Waqar and the so called Chief selector ) , Like you all had the Big smiling Faces when Mohammad Asif was Rescued out of UAE Jail Cos that was a Special talent . Same situation will come out in this case what happened to Asif few years later in London , The pie stuck on the mingled faces of Fans, PCB . sooner or later , The bigger pie will be used again by This so called special talent Bowler and then WE The Moaners , Will have the Biggest laugh on you , Time will come cos Ones who do not learn from history and previous mistakes , are bound to be stuck with bigger venom from the same hole . let this special talent come on to the field and face the verbal abuse down under from NZ and then the masters of the sledging Australians , not to forget the Original place where he was convicted and jailed for his petty crimes ... We will see , how he survives these 3 testing outings and lastly How The Smile will stay on your faces
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Jan 07, 2016 01:07pm
Welcome Amir...please be very carefull the Jealous teammates are very near you...
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Jan 07, 2016 01:29pm
Cricket.. No more a gentlemen's game
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Jan 07, 2016 01:33pm
@Saeed Masood They will try their best to fail Aamir in international cricket.
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Jan 07, 2016 01:37pm
Please ---Please do not expect miracles, every one is expecting too much from Amir. Please do not push him under pressure,let him him play his normal game. wish him all the best.
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Jan 07, 2016 01:53pm
I knew he will get the visa. Can't wait to see him in field.
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Jan 07, 2016 01:54pm
@Ali Dada .. lol
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Jan 07, 2016 02:05pm
Time has come no one knows who is good and who is bad..the one sell his country is good and the one is been honest to his country is bad..u guys are jokers ur kid mind people that's why do much bad things happening in Pakistan people like u guys making the bad one look good?
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Jan 07, 2016 02:12pm
This news is the slap on Amir's critics. Thanks to New Zealand.
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Jan 07, 2016 02:14pm
shine on you crazy diamond
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Jan 07, 2016 02:18pm
If Pakistan pulls it off in New Zealand, my hunch is that it will be Amir who will be the differentiator. First, he has a point to prove (remember that killer delivery to Hafeez in BPL?). Second, these are not the slow pitches of Bangladesh, he will get green tops in New Zealand ....
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Jan 07, 2016 02:28pm
Good start.
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Jan 07, 2016 02:50pm
Awesome!!!
I used to like Azhar but extremely disappointed in both Azhar and Hafeez. They would rather continue losing matches for us than to include Amir. Our team is currently the worst ranked in ODI battling for the last position with WI which I think is much better than Pakistani team.
With Amir, we at least have one world class player in the team.. who can also bat better than Azhar or Hafeez.
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Jan 07, 2016 02:53pm
He is a good bowler, he should have to show his talent in coming series.
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Jan 07, 2016 02:55pm
@Rameez You must be Raja
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Jan 07, 2016 03:14pm
Welcome back Amir. The ball now is in your court!
Work hard and you will get it !
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Jan 07, 2016 03:15pm
Michael Carley, INZ area manager, "In making this decision, INZ considered factors including the support of the New Zealand and Pakistan Cricket Board and that Mr Amir had served his sentence for his previous actions."
a balanced statement by someone who is appropriately placed in certain position on merit NOT because of helping someone to win elections like Sethi placed in PCB.
Ramiz, your next step would be what ? to criticize NZC who are unlike you.
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Jan 07, 2016 03:26pm
Hope his jail term has reformed him and he has not returned as a hardened criminal and would not try to fix anything anymore.
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Jan 07, 2016 03:38pm
FINALLY Im so glad to see this tiger making a comeback all Aamir haters such as Hafeez Azhar all i want to say is I hope you guys fail fail fail like you always do on oversea pitches. We all know how Hafeez is when playing outside Asia I really hope Aamir does well
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Jan 07, 2016 03:40pm
Ramiz Raja owe an apology to Amir.
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Jan 07, 2016 03:40pm
This soothes the pain a bit left by Yasir Shah's drug fiasco. He did the crime then served the time and ban and apologized so he MUST be given a chance. Simple.
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Jan 07, 2016 04:23pm
It's a day to say good bye cricket. It's no more the gentleman game. Better to switch football. Lover of this convicted chap will eat their words right after this series. Pakistan is full of talent especially fast bowlers but the politics can't allow such talent to come to surface. I m quite sure we may have a dozen of such bowlers playing in roadside cricket. Why don't PCB try to find a few.
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Jan 07, 2016 04:28pm
Amir is now back...please take is as a hard fact...don't leave everything on Amir...
the rest of the team will have to perform and play...I don't trust Hafeez and Azhar...
someone should tell tell them that if they fail they will have to leave...PSL should become a game changer...I am surely the new talent will now show their worth and new blood will come in our team Inshahallah
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Jan 07, 2016 05:02pm
Amir gets the 'visa' to go brutal on batsmen, again!
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Jan 07, 2016 05:06pm
@Logic Their is no question, he was convicted. McCullum is on about Amir's honesty and regretting his past actions .
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Jan 07, 2016 05:20pm
Welcome Welcome!
we are waiting dude!
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Jan 07, 2016 05:26pm
@Guest66 At least be optimistic. Punishments' essence is that one learn the lesson so did Amir. Show some optimism.
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Jan 07, 2016 05:43pm
Amir, my favourite bowler some six years ago, will again fill the void left in my heart,some 5-6 years ago.
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Jan 07, 2016 05:43pm
we are delighted to have Amir back in the team, Mr Azhar & Hafeez can quit.
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Jan 07, 2016 06:06pm
Kiddo, you deserve a second chance. Go make us proud!
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Jan 07, 2016 06:08pm
A very good and promising begining for the young player. This the the first win of Amir on his return to the game! May he get many more.
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Jan 07, 2016 06:10pm
The day he accepted his fault I had passed him as a genuine young man! You only progress if you accept your mistakes.
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Jan 07, 2016 06:27pm
Welcome back Amir
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Jan 07, 2016 06:52pm
Very sensible remarks by McCullum. Azhar and Hafeez might note them.
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Jan 07, 2016 07:19pm
Dude now show the Pakistani nation your hard work and talent. We really backed you a lot.
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Jan 07, 2016 07:53pm
This is the only news I was waiting for, Thank you NZ, good luck Amir
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Jan 07, 2016 08:11pm
wow! what a good news it is!
hopefully Aamir will try his level best and bring outstanding changing in team and he will give huge lead to the opposite team, Newzealand. Indeed Aamir is a good fast bowler and we have much more expections on Aamir and he is a man by which Pakistan may win the series.
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Jan 07, 2016 09:38pm
@CALCUTTA MAN , Even Australians ( who live just across the narrow sea lanes ) Have had hard times in taming the Kiwis in NZ , so Its a big hope that Pakistan will pull it off in NZ , even if you have 3 such so called Special talent , There is No Chance to Pull it off . Australians have learnt it the hard way , South Africans ( with far bigger special talents in fast bowling) found it the hardest way to tame the Kiwis in NZ .... We Will See When the toughest part of the game ( on field sledging ) starts there down under how the special talent will survive !!!!!
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Jan 07, 2016 11:05pm
Welcome back, now rock this world
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