Fawad Ahmed to tour Africa at same time as Ashes

 

Pakistan-born spinner Fawad Ahmed is being sent to Africa on an Australia A tour at the same time as the Ashes series.
But Ahmed remains in contention for the Ashes should his Australian citizenship be approved in time, the chairman of selectors John Inverarity says.
Ahmed and fellow spinner Ashton Agar were on Wednesday named in a 15-man Australia A squad for an African tour next month.
"Those two are, in a sense, in contention if we decide to expand the Ashes squad and expand it with a spinner," Inverarity said.
Australian cricket hierarchy expect Ahmed's citizenship to be approved before the first Test against England starting 10 July.
Ahmed, Agar and Test incumbent spinner Nathan Lyon are currently on the Australia A tour of the United Kingdom.
Ahmed took his first wicket for Australia A on Monday in a win against Ireland and will play against Gloucestershire later this week.
The 31-year-old claimed refuge in Australia three years ago after fleeing his native Pakistan saying he was being persecuted by the Taliban.
A recent amendment to Australia's Citizenship Act means that Fawad would be allowed to fast-track his passport application in time for the Ashes series, but the amendment has yet to pass the Senate.
Australia A will play Zimbabwe and South Africa A in three and four-day matches from 18 July, with a one-day series to follow also including India A.
"Should replacements be required for the Ashes tour, these players will be playing in a similar time zone from during this time," Inverarity said.
Australia A squad for Africa tour:
Steve Smith (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Fawad Ahmed, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Alex Doolan, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Nic Maddinson, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tim Paine, Gurinder Sandhu, Chadd Sayers.

 

Melbourne: Australian batsman David Warner was on Wednesday axed from the Champions Trophy match against New Zealand and might face stricter action after being involved in an "unprovoked" physical altercation with an England player, believed to be Joe Root.

"Cricket Australia (CA) advises that Australian batsman David Warner has been stood down from Australia's ICC Champions Trophy match against New Zealand after being reported for breaching the CA Code of Behaviour," CA said in a statement.

Warner has been reported for breaching Rule 6 relating to "unbecoming behaviour" after he was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with an England player in the early hours of Sunday morning following the Champions Trophy match between the teams in Birmingham.

The England and Wales Cricket Board also came out with a statement on the incident but it did not name Root as the other player. The ECB, however, insisted that Warner's attack was unprovoked.

"Following a statement issued this morning by Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirms that David Warner initiated an unprovoked physical attack on a member of the England team in a Birmingham bar following England's 48-run victory over Australia," the ECB said.

"Warner has admitted behaving inappropriately and has since apologised to the player involved who has accepted the apology. Following a full investigation the England team management has concluded that the England player was in no way responsible for nor retaliated to the attack," it added.

The incident reportedly took place in a Birmingham bar and involved alcohol after Australia lost to England in their tournament-opener.

"Team management have stood down Warner pending the outcome of the hearing, meaning he will miss Australia's match against New Zealand in Birmingham," CA said.

Rule 6 states: "Without limiting any other rule, players and officials must not at any time engage in behaviour unbecoming to a representative player or official that could (a) bring them or the game into disrepute or (b) be harmful to the interests of cricket."