The platform has been laid for legspinner Fawad Ahmed to push hard for Australian Test selection after Victoria showed enough faith to award him a three-year contract on Friday.
Ahmed’s first-class cricket career was put in limbo when he fled Pakistan in 2010 and arrived in Australia as an asylum seeker.
But after taking 16 wickets in just three Sheffield Shield games for the Bushrangers last season, the 31-year-old impressed his adopted state enough to land a full-time contract.
The deal gives Ahmed some security as he aims to break into the Test ranks as soon as this year.
He will qualify for Australia under ICC rules in mid-August after being granted permanent residency in late 2012, but will also need to gain Australian citizenship before being considered for selection.
There was talk that his citizenship application would be fast-tracked to make him eligible for the five-Test Ashes series in England starting in June.
But the bureaucratic processes weren’t signed off quickly enough for Ahmed to be considered for the 16-man squad named on Wednesday.
He will hope for a strong start to the next Shield season to put his name in front of selectors for the five-match return Ashes series in Australia.
Ahmed is best placed to begin as Victoria’s first-choice spinner ahead of Jon Holland and James Muirhead, who were among an 18-strong list handed Cricket Victoria contracts for the 2013-14 season.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Holland missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury and 19-year-old legspinner Muirhead is a work in progress.
“Fawad Ahmed was the success story from last year and we’re extremely happy to have signed him for the next three seasons,” Bushrangers coach Greg Shipperd said.
Allrounder Dan Christian was also confirmed as a Victorian recruit after falling out with senior administration at South Australia.
Former Test allrounder Andrew McDonald was also released to join the Redbacks while Meyrick Buchanan, Ryan Carters, Darren Pattinson and rookie Steven Reid also missed out on contract renewals.
The list includes Ashes tourists Chris Rogers, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Matthew Wade.
Cricket Victoria contracts:
Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Daniel Christian, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, John Hastings, Jayde Herrick, Michael Hill, Jon Holland, David Hussey, Alex Keath, James Muirhead, Rob Quiney, Chris Rogers, Will Sheridan, Ryan Sidebottom, Marcus Stoinis and Cameron White.
AAP wk/d
