Mohammad Amir finally gets visa, all set to tour New Zealand for limited-overs series

New Delhi: Tainted Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir is all set to resume playing international cricket as immigration officials granted him a visa on Thursday.

There might be resentment among his fellow cricketers, but the 23-year-old has backing of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and coach Waqar Younis, who have asked the other players to cooperate with his return into the team.

Amir completed a five-year ban from international cricket in September and served six months of a three-year prison sentence for taking bribes to bowl no balls at specified moments in a Test match against England at Lord's in 2010.

Reports said New Zealand immigration officials considered withholding Amir's visa on character grounds, but decided to allow him to enter the country, taking into account his completed suspension and support for him from the Pakistan and New Zealand cricket boards.

In New Zealand, Pakistan are scheduled to play three Twenty20 internationals starting in Auckland on January 15 and three one-day internationals later in the month.

(With PTI inputs)