Pakistan-born Fawad Ahmed set to feature in Australia’s WI, Ashes tour

Victoria leg-spinner hopeful of a 'different' and 'better' performance for the Kangaroos

SYDNEY: Pakistan-born leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed was called up by Australia on Tuesday for the upcoming tour of the West Indies and the Ashes campaign in England.

Pakistan-born Fawad, who sought asylum in Australia in 2010, got the nod ahead of Ashton Agar as the second spinner behind Nathan Lyon after a stellar Sheffield Shield season in which he took 48 wickets.

Read more: Pakistan-born Australian breaks domestic cricket record 

"It's been an amazing 2015 for me," said Fawad, 33, who was granted citizenship in 2013 and played three one-day internationals and two T20 internationals during Australia's tour of England and Scotland later that year.

"I've bowled with a big heart and a big chest in every situation."

Fawad 'comfortable' with Australian drinking

Boozy celebrations have been a part of Australian cricket for decades but test hopeful Fawad Ahmed will be politely declining when the victory beers are passed around on the tour of the Caribbean and England.

The 33-year-old legspinner has plenty of reasons to celebrate, having helped Victoria win the domestic Sheffield Shield last week and earned a place in the test squad for the first time.

However, as a devout Muslim, Pakistan-born Fawad has been quiet but firm about his abstinence from alcohol. His request to bowl for Australia without a beer sponsor's logo on his outfit was granted when he made his 2013 debut in one-day and T20 cricket in England, though it generated heated debate back home.

Newly crowned world champions, Australia's one-day team partied hard after defeating New Zealand and the test side can be expected to enjoy at least some success against eighth-ranked West Indies in the two-match series starting June.

Fawad said he and his Victoria team mate Peter Siddle, also selected for the tour, could share a non-drinking moment of joy while others imbibe.

"That's their culture, that's their tradition, I knew that before I was coming to Australia and I'm more comfortable with that," he told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.

"This is good the way they are enjoying and celebrating.

"I've been around in the system for five years and I would say Peter Siddle is not drinking as well. You could say he's my partner now. I'm really glad he's on the tour as well and he's had some good spells (for Victoria)."

Granted permanent residency in Australia in 2012 and citizenship a year later, former refugee Fawad took a wicket in each of his first three ODIs in England in 2013, but went off the selectors' radar for much of the next two years.

Victoria's resurgence under captain Matthew Wade in the 2014/15 season proved a timely boost and Fawad finished the domestic season top wicket-taker with 48 scalps at an average of 24.85, outshining Australia's ranks of quality fast bowlers on local pitches that rarely turn.

Fawad said he had to take a step back after his Australia debut came in a rush and easing the pressure on himself had paid dividends.

"I changed my mind, I took the pressure off and I wasn't looking to play for Australia so soon, rather playing more for Victoria and performing at Shield level, that was the most important thing for me," he said.

"This time it will be different and better."

Other additions to the Australian Test squad

Meanwhile, batsman Adam Voges and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill were also called up by Australia.

But there was no room in the 17-man squad for all-rounders James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell, who were a potent part of Australia's one-day World Cup winning side.

Joe Burns was also overlooked, despite scoring two half-centuries in Australia's last Test, against India in January, while paceman James Pattinson missed out with a hamstring injury, opening the door once again for Peter Siddle.

Voges won his place on the plane for similar reasons, with the 35-year-old Western Australian captain smashing 1,358 Shield runs to be the season's highest scorer and player of the year with an average of 104.46.

New South Wales keeper Nevill was picked as Brad Haddin's understudy, preferred to Matthew Wade.

National selector Rod Marsh said the Test team had performed very well in recent times, and the big challenge was to maintain the form away from home.

"We believe this squad has sufficient depth for these important Test matches against the West Indies and England and will give us the best chance of success," he said.

Marsh said selectors could not ignore Fawad and Voges after "sensational seasons" at domestic level.

"They thoroughly deserve their call-up and the opportunity to be a part of this squad. We believe that both can play important roles in the side if required," he said.

"Adam had one of the great seasons in Sheffield Shield history. He is an experienced player and quality character who will add talent and leadership to the touring party.

"Fawad has worked incredibly hard on his game and has demonstrated throughout the season that he can be a consistent wicket-taker.

"Peter Nevill has been on our radar for some time and deserves his opportunity through weight of runs and performances behind the stumps," he added.

Australia play two Tests in the West Indies from June 5, with their five-Test Ashes series starting in England on July 8.

Fast bowler Ryan Harris was included in the squad, but will only play the Ashes series, remaining in Australia throughout the West Indies tour for the birth of his first child.

While Faulkner and Maxwell missed out, selector Marsh cast an air of mystery over his plans for them.

"We've got hopeful plans that I can't reveal right now for Jimmy Faulkner. He'll be right," he told reporters, adding of Maxwell: "It's a tragedy we can't play him in every game at the moment. But watch this space."

Fawad and Voges were selected despite missing out on Cricket Australia contracts for the 2015/16 season.

CA announced on Tuesday it had contracted 19 players, one more than last season. Emerging fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood and allrounder Mitchell Marsh won contracts.

Dropping off the list were Siddle, despite being named for the Test tours, and deceased batsman Phillip Hughes.

Australia depart for the West Indies on May 19.

Squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Steve Smith, Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris (Ashes only), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.