AUSTRALIAN international Fawad Ahmed is one of three big names bound for Port Fairy as part of Victorian Premier Cricket’s country round.
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The Pakistan-born leg-spinner, 32, will suit up with Melbourne University when it takes on Northcote in a one-day match at Avery’s Paddock on Saturday.
Ahmed has played three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches for Australia since gaining citizenship in July, 2013.
His availability for club cricket stems from a gap in the Victorian Bushrangers’ domestic schedule.
Northcote is set to regain fellow Bushrangers Marcus Stoinis and Matt Short for the clash, one of nine going ahead across country Victoria on Saturday.
Perth-raised Stoinis has played Sheffield Shield with Western Australia and Victoria, while Short represented Australia at the 2014 Under 19 World Cup.
Melbourne University coach Jarrod Leggett said he was pleased to have Ahmed at his disposal.
The tweaker grew up in north-west Pakistan but fled to Australia in 2010 due to persecution from religious extremists who opposed his work with an non-government organisation.
What followed was a lengthy battle to secure asylum — the Immigration Department knocked back his application three times, the last in September, 2012.
Ahmed, a Muslim, appealed to the then-immigration minister Chris Bowen and, with the help of Melbourne University, received permanent residency in November.
He became an Australian citizen in July, 2013 and made his international debut in a Twenty20 match against England a month later. “It’s a phenomenal story,” Leggett said.
“We’ve played a huge part in helping Fawad along the journey but what struck me most about him was his personality more than his cricket ability.
“His cricket ability was obvious for everyone to see, but he was a really nice, genuine person that needed help. We’re thankful we could play a part.
“It’s been a great learning experience for us, too, about the culture he came from and his religion, the discipline he shows towards his religion.
“And not just that, we haven’t had a Victorian player for a while.”
Melbourne University enters the VPC country round one of the form sides with three wins from four matches this season.
Leggett said his side was looking forward to playing at Port Fairy as part of the country round.
“It’s just luck of the draw. We sit there and wait, the fixture gets announced and away we go. If we had a preference, Port Fairy would be top of the list,” he said.