Ali, Hafeez skip national camp due to presence of Amir

Azhar Ali, the Pakistan ODI skipper, and Mohammad Hafeez have decided not to take part in the national team’s conditioning camp in Lahore due to the presence of Mohammad Amir, who is one of the probables. Azhar confirmed his absence was due to Amir’s participation in the camp while the cricket website quoted Agha Akbar, the Pakistan team manager, as saying that Hafeez pulled out apparently for the same reason.

The camp, which is a build-up to Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand, began on December 21. Hafeez and Azhar missed the first three days of training as they were participating in domestic matches in Karachi. They were to join the training on Thursday (December 24), but failed to turn up at the Gaddafi Stadium. “I will not attend the camp as long as Amir is there. This is my decision and we are open to discuss with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). I don’t want to comment on Hafeez’s decision, but we both have the same stance,” Azhar said. The team manager told the website: “Both are not joining the training camp on Friday apparently because of Mohammad Amir.” This development comes a day after PCB insisted that Amir, who was banned from cricket over a spot-fixing scandal, was fully rehabilitated and deserved another chance at international cricket.