Hafeez, Azhar refuse to train with tainted Amir

Karachi, december 24
Pakistan ODI captain Azhar Ali and opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez have refused to join the national camp in Lahore, citing the presence of tainted left-arm pacer Mohammad Aamir.
Ali told a Pakistan news channel that they don’t want to be a part of the camp that includes Aamir. “We will discuss the issue with the PCB chairman,” Ali said.
According to sources, Hafeez and Ali reported for the camp in the morning session on Thursday but did not return for the evening session. “A message was conveyed to the team management, including head coach Waqar Younis, that the two are not comfortable training with Aamir,” said the source.
The development comes a day after the PCB pleaded with former players, critics and commentators, who are against Aamir’s return, to forgive the fast bowler.
Aamir’s bid to return to the national side got a major boost last week when, besides getting picked in the Pakistan Super League players draft, he was called for the national conditioning camp.
Hafeez had earlier turned down an offer from Chittagong Vikings to feature in the Bangladesh Premier League because the franchise had already signed up Aamir. The former captain said that he could not share the dressing room with a player who had tarnished Pakistan’s image.
“It is not about individuals or any personality clash. It is about the image of Pakistan cricket. I cannot play with any player who has brought a bad name to the country,” Hafeez had said.
Former Pakistan Test captains Ramiz Raja and Rashid Latif and ex-Test opener and head coach Mohsin Khan have all been very critical of allowing Aamir back in the team after serving the spot-fixing ban.
Raja, who is also the ambassador of Pakistan Super League (PSL), said that if he had the powers to take a call on the matter, he would have never let Aamir play again.