Pakistan team leave for Ireland, England tours

Pakistan national cricket team, comprising 16 players and 11 officials, left for Ireland via Dubai on flight EK-623 from Allama Iqbal International Airport in the wee hours yesterday.

The team will play one Test against Ireland, two Tests against England and two T20 against Scotland during the tour. The team will take on Ireland, who will be playing their first ever Test on May 11.

The first Test against England will start on May 24 and the second Test will begin on June 1. Pakistan will also play two T20 internationals against Scotland on May 12 and 13.

The 16-player squad included Sarfraz Ahmad (captain), Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Sami Aslam, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saad Ali, Asad Shafiq, Usman Salahuddin, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Private news channel reported.

Fast bowler Mohammad Amir’s departure for the Pakistan cricket team’s tour of Ireland and Britain has been delayed due to a problem in obtaining his visa.

“Amir could not travel with the team,” Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Amjad Bhatti confirmed. “There’s some procedural issue which I hope will be resolved by Wednesday.”

Not first time

Bhatti could not elaborate what exactly the issue was, but he was optimistic that Amir will get his visa within two days.

Local media reported Amir had already applied for a longer term spouse visa because his wife is a British national and that could lead to him getting a British passport.

This is not the first time that Amir has had a delay in obtaining a visa.

During Pakistan team’s last tour of England two years ago he faced a similar problem before the PCP sought help from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Amir was banned for five years in 2010 for his involvement in spot-fixing and also served a brief stint in jail in England for the same offence.