Pakistani players agree 'unconditionally' to return to conditioning camp
Pakistan ODI skipper Azhar Ali, alongside Mohammad Hafeez have agreed to return to the ongoing training camp after they had initially given it a miss due to the presence of the troubled cricketer Mohammad Amir, reports ESPN Cricinfo.
The duo had only yesterday boycotted camp due to Amir’s presence, but now seemed to have worked things out with the Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB). They met with chairman Shaharyar Khan and have come to a mutual decision.
"They both met and decided to join the training camp. I do respect their concerns but some of them, I told them, are not acceptable. So they understood and confirmed that they are on the same page with us and now we are looking forward to the success of the team,” Khan said.
Amir was formally banned for 5 years by the ICC. But he has been allowed to play cricket again, and that’s when the PCB named him among the 26 probables for the pre-season conditioning camp ahead of the upcoming tour of New Zealand and cited it a second chance for the disgraced cricketer.
The chairman also clarified that Amir was only in the probables list so far, and wasn’t confirmed yet for the national team, and asked the seniors in the team to support him. "We have also conveyed that for a while we have only selected Amir in the training session and he has not been selected in the national team so far.
“But if so (Amir is selected) then they both(Ali and Hafeez) have to stand with him and should not see him with suspicion or behave badly with him,” he clearly stated.
Hafeez agreed to return to the camp but maintained that his stance on corruption would not change.
"My stance has been simple all the way, that anyone who damages the pride and integrity of the country should not be given a chance again. It was my principle stance and will remain the same throughout my life,” he asserted.
"I also want to clarify that my stance wasn't against any one individual, but it was for all who have committed (corruption). I have forgiven all who have damaged the integrity of the Pakistan cricket through corruption but I, in principle, am against corruption and will keep holding this stance forever. I hope people will understand and support me,” he remarked.