I came here for a safe life, not for the cricket - Fawad Ahmed
Fawad Ahmed led a difficult life in September 2012 when his application for asylum in Australia was rejected for a third time, until his cricket club received an important phone call writes Warwick Green in the Herald Sun
06-Jul-2013
Fawad Ahmed had led a difficult life after his application for asylum in Australia was rejected for a third time in September 2012. Memories of fellow state cricketer and friend of 10 years, Nauman Habib's unexplained death in October 2011 made him dread his return to Pakistan. But just when the legspinner, who had received threats from "terrorists" at home, was losing hope Derek Bennett, president of the cricket club Ahmed played for, received an important phone call, writes Warwick Green in the Herald Sun.
"The key moment came when Ed Cowan rang,'' Bennett said. The Australians, preparing for the first Test of the summer against South Africa, were looking for a net bowler whose action resembled Proteas leg-spinner Imran Tahir. Cowan recalled seeing just such an action when Ahmed was bowling in the MCG nets.
"And then Ed said, 'Do you reckon Fawad could come up and bowl to us?''' Knowing full well that the assignment could help generate some timely publicity, Bennett had no hesitation in agreeing on Ahmed's behalf.
After several days of having his face and story plastered across the nation's media, Ahmed found his application for permanent residency status granted by the Minister