Mohammad Amir granted visa for England tour

Karachi: In what may come as a major respite to Pakistan, fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been granted visa by the UK authorities to travel with the national team for the upcoming tour to England.

Amir, along with former skipper Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, were found guilty of various offences of corrupt behaviour relating to the Lord's Test between England and Pakistan in August 2010 by the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal in February 2011.

The 24-year-old, whose five-year ban from spot-fixing ended in September last year, went on to display an impressive form since then, having scalped a total of 16 wickets in two ODIs and 11 T20Is he has played so far.

Earlier, Amir was named in the 17-member Test squad for the first time since his return from ban and was subjected to visa clearance to play in the upcoming tour.

The Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB) had approached their England counterpart to help them secure Amir's travel documents after which he would depart with the team on June 18.

The former spot fixer, however, is now all set to return on the ground where he committed the crime, the Dawn reported.

Pakistan will tour England for a four-match Test series and a five-match ODI series, starting from July 14 at the Lord's.