MELBOURNE, June 6: Former Pakistani asylum-seeker Fawad Ahmed moved a step closer to playing in next month’s Ashes series against England after being rushed into the Australia ‘A’ squad for their tour of Britain on Thursday.

The prospects of Fawad, 31, playing for his adopted country improved dramatically when a bill to amend the Citizenship Act, which will help fast-track his application, passed through Australia’s lower house of parliament on Wednesday.

“Fawad is a spin bowler of interest and we look forward to seeing how he performs for Australia ‘A’,” chief selector John Inverarity said, expressing confidence Fawad’s citizenship would soon be awarded.

While the legislation still needs to go through the upper house, Cricket Australia said it appeared there was enough support for it to become law.

The new legislation will give Australia’s immigration minister the power to apply shorter residential requirements on some citizenship applicants, such as elite athletes with the potential to represent Australia, as in Fawad’s case.

Currently, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s Player Eligibility Criteria, Fawad will only become eligible for national selection on Aug 18.

But CA said that if the bill should become law, and Fawad obtains citizenship and an Australian passport before that date, he will immediately be available for the national side.

The ICC’s Player Eligibility Criteria does not apply to being picked for ‘A’ teams, so Fawad is able to join Australia ‘A’s current tour, CA said.

Fawad, 31, will leave for Britain this weekend and be available for the Australia ‘A’ tour matches against Ireland (14-17 June) and Gloucestershire (21-23 June).

“It’s amazing news for me,” he told reporters here. “I am very happy. It is a great opportunity for me to prove myself for Australia A in overseas conditions.”

Fawad said his journey to Australia had been all about survival.

“I’ve been through a really tough time,” he said.

“Wars in Pakistan and fled in 2010, [refugee] camp here, struggled to survive but never gave up, worked hard and happy to be in a great place.

“This nation has given me a lot. They have given me honour and respect,” he added.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the only spin bowler in Australia’s 16-man Ashes squad, with the selectors leaving the door open for Fawad and others to press claims.

However, national captain Michael Clarke denied before leaving for England that he would automatically leapfrog Lyon, who was dropped and then recalled during Australia’s 4-0 Test series loss in India in March.

Fawad, who has been coached by former Test spinner Stuart MacGill at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane, said he also hoped to have a coaching session in England with the legendary Shane Warne.—AFP