Duo to join training camp after meeting with PCB

News

Cricket365
January 17, 2016

Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali have agreed to join a Pakistan training camp after a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan after initially refusing to be part of the squad due to the presence of Mohammad Amir.

Seam bowler Amir recently returned to competitive cricket after being banned for five years because of spot-fixing in a Test match in England in 2010.

Allrounder Hafeez, who is a senior player in the national side, and Azhar, who is Pakistan's ODI captain, said they would not play in the same team with someone who brought shame to their country.

It seems the issue has been resolved for now, and the pair will join up with the squad at their base in Lahore.

Khan said after a meeting with the both players: "They both met and decided to join the training camp. I do respect their concerns but some of them, I told them, are not acceptable.

"So they understood and confirmed that they are on the same page with us and now we are looking forward to the success of the team.

"We have also conveyed that for a while we have only selected Amir in the training session and he has not been selected in the national team so far.

"But if so [Amir is selected] then they both have to stand with him and should not see him with suspicion or behave badly with him.

"It is now their responsibility – Azhar as captain and him [Hafeez] as a senior player – to take him like a family. We, at the same time, will ensure that Amir stays on course and does not commit any mistake in future."