Rising leg-spinner and former refugee Fawad Ahmed is excited about another opportunity to show his talents when Victoria meets New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield match at the MCG starting on Thursday.
Ahmed, who is within a few months of being eligible to play for Australia after leaving his native Pakistan in 2010, took seven wickets in an outright victory on his Shield debut for Victoria a fortnight ago, and has won rave reviews.
The 31-year-old said he was improving under the professional structure of state cricket.
“It’s completely different,” he said.
“They are working on every single department – bowling, batting, fielding, fitness.
“There are so many facilities here and I’m taking advantage of that.
“Definitely I’m improving more than back in Pakistan, and quite fast as well.”
Ahmed already has permanent residency in Australia and is awaiting citizenship.
He is eligible to play as soon as he is granted citizenship, but under International Cricket Council guidelines, he can play for his adopted country once he has lived at least half of four consecutive years there.
The ICC has determined this criteria will be fulfilled in August this year, toward the end of the Ashes series in England.
With Australia suffering another humiliating defeat on Tuesday on the tour of India, many eyes will be trained on the Shield game featuring Ahmed and the gifted young New South Wales leg-spinner, Adam Zampa.
Victoria are four points clear at the top of the table and can secure a home final if they beat their old rivals over the weekend.