Ahmed set for Ashes call after becoming Australian

MELBOURNE,  (Reuters) – Pakistan-born leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed was named an Australian citizen yesterday, clearing the final procedural hurdle for his selection for the Ashes series against England starting on July 10.

Former Federal Minister for Immigration Brendan O’Connor made the announcement within a fortnight of the Australian Senate passing legislation to fast-track citizenship in special cases.

“It’s a long journey and it was a long struggle,” said Ahmed, who arrived in Australia on a short-term visa in 2010 and claimed asylum on the grounds of receiving death threats from Islamic extremists for being involved with a Pakistani NGO promoting women’s rights.