First-class cricketer Fawad Ahmed, who fled Pakistan saying he’d received death threats for promoting western values, will be granted a permanent visa in Australia.
The Melbourne University leg-spinner aspires to play in the Big Bash League domestic Twenty20 competition and was given a taste of big-time cricket last week after accepting an invitation to bowl in the nets to the Australia Test side in Brisbane.
Ahmed claimed 23 wickets in 10 first-class games before leaving Pakistan in 2010.
“The Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has personally considered Mr Ahmed’s case and decided to grant a permanent visa for him to be able to stay, work and play cricket in Australia, subject to the normal health and security checks which he’ll now undertake,” a spokesman for the minister said on Thursday.
Ahmed said he was grateful to all who had helped in the process.
“It is overwhelming. I’m really happy,” he said in a Cricket Australia (CA) statement.
Ahmed said the past three years had been extremely stressful for him and his cricket performances had suffered because of sleepless nights.
According to a report in The Age newspaper, Ahmed was threatened by religious extremists in Pakistan who accused him of promoting western values by playing cricket and supporting organisations that promoted the education of women and girls.
CA chief executive James Sutherland said the cricket community was thrilled the visa had been granted.
Sutherland thanked the minister for his personal consideration of the case.
Cricket Victoria (CV) chief Tony Dodemaide said Ahmed had already made strong contributions on and off the field for Hoppers Crossing and Melbourne University clubs and through his role as CV’s Multicultural Liaison Officer and Harmony in Cricket Ambassador.