Mohammad Amir “eligible for multiple visits” in New Zealand within two months
MUMBAI: Pakistani team, including their pace bowler Mohammad Amir, left for New Zealand (via Melbourne, Australia) yesterday from Karachi.
The players have also been granted Australian visas (for their transit trip). “Had Amir not got Australian visa, he could have boarded a direct flight to Auckland”, the member of the team management told to this scribe.
Interestingly, Mohammad Amir has a two-month multiple entry visa and not the single entry visa. This has been exclusively revealed by Emma Murphy, the Senior Communications Adviser, MBIE (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment), the Visa authority in New Zealand.
“We can confirm that Mr Amir has been granted a 2 month multiple entry visitor visa which allows him to stay for a maximum of 1 month each visit”, Emma Murphy, speaking exclusively over telephone from New Zealand, said.
“It is expected that Mr Amir will leave New Zealand with the rest of the cricket team when the tour ends at the end of January. If Mr Amir wishes to travel to New Zealand in the future then he would need to submit a new visa application”, she further added.
Without naming Amir, she said, “all non-New Zealanders coming to New Zealand must be of good character”.
“In this particular case, Mr Amir correctly declared his convictions and his subsequent removal from the UK in 2012 and a special direction was granted taking into account these circumstances and with full understanding of the purpose of his visit. Please note because Mr Amir is on a special direction he is able to work (as a player) during his stay in New Zealand as part of the cricket tour”, she signed off.
The Pak team is scheduled to play three Twenty20s’ and three ODIs’ against New Zealand in this month.
The PCB chairman Shahryar Khan is believed to have given a pep-talk to the players and Mohammad Amir in specific, it is learnt here.
Amir has not been allowed to speak to the media, however, he conveyed the following news through his elder brother, Mohammad Ijaj.
“Amir has specially conveyed thanks to Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly for their support. Both these played had openly welcome the PCB’s move of his inclusion in the team”, the brother, speaking exclusively, added.
“Amir is also thankful to Michael Holding (West Indies), Mike Atherton (England), and former Pak. players Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Yousuf who all extended their voice in his favour”, Ijaj added further.
None of Mohammad Amir’s family members have been travelling to New Zealand. “I shall be visiting Dharamsala during India-Pak match (World 20-20). Will also travel to UAE when the PSL (Pakistan Super League) is played there next month”, the brother concluded.
