Mohammad Amir included in Pakistan camp ahead of New Zealand tour

Amir picked up 14 wickets at an economy rate of just 5.5 in BPL 2015

Pakistan Cricket Board has included Mohammad Amir in a 26-man squad for a two-week long conditioning camp in Lahore ahead of Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand. Amir’s selection in the camp, which will be used to assess the players ahead of the World T20 in March is a big step towards his re-entry into the national side.

Amir, who finished the Bangladesh Premier League as the leading wicket-taker for his side, Chittagong Vikings, will be looking to impress in the camp and get on the path towards re-selection before the World T20 in India.

Although several senior Pakistani players have had reservations about letting back into the dressing room, including Pakistan’s T20 skipper Mohammad Hafeez, who turned down a lucrative offer to play for the Vikings as he didn't want to play with Amir, both PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and head coach Waqar Younis, have welcomed the prospect of Amir’s return to the national set-up.

Amir, who completed his five-year ban for his involvement in spot-fixing scandal that plagued Pakistan cricket, earlier said: “I promise that I will do my best to respect the prestige of the green cap and Pakistan shirt.”

Amir, who was only 18 at the time of the ban that looked to have derailed a promising cricket career, was described by former Pakistan captain Imran Khan as “the hottest property in international cricket”.

However, after serving his ban and successfully completing the rehabilitation process, Amir looks to have got his career back on track. Since returning to cricket, he has not onl picked up 22 wickets in four non-first-class matches, but also picked 34 wickets at the Quaid-e-Azam trophy.

"The main objective of the camp is to improve the overall physical fitness of all players and to enhance the technical aspect of each player's game and to prepare them for the upcoming international events," said a Pakistan Cricket Board press release.

The 26 players included for the fitness camp will be eligible for Pakistan tour of New Zealand, which begins on January 15. Pakistan will play three ODIs and three T20Is in their tour before taking part in the Asia Cup scheduled to be held in Bangladesh and the World Twenty20 in India, which starts in March.

26-man squad for camp: Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sharjeel Khan, Azher Ali, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Umer Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Bilal Asif, Sohaib Maqsood, Amir Yamin, Wahab Riaz, Anwer Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Umer Gul, Rahat Ali, Junaid Khan, Ruman Raees, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Saad Nasim, Mohammad Amir