Pakistan-born spinner Fawad Ahmed is being sent to Africa on an Australia A tour at the same time as the Ashes series.
But Ahmed remains in contention for the Ashes should his Australian citizenship be approved in time, chairman of selectors John Inverarity says.
Ahmed and fellow tweaker Ashton Agar were on Wednesday named in a 15-man Australia A squad for an African tour next month.
“Those two are, in a sense, in contention if we decide to expand the Ashes squad and expand it with a spinner,” Inverarity said.
Australian cricket hierarchy expect Ahmed’s citizenship to be approved before the first Test against England starting July 10.
Ahmed, Agar and Test incumbent spinner Nathan Lyon are currently on the Australia A tour of the United Kingdom.
Ahmed took his first wicket for Australia A on Monday in a win against Ireland and will play against Gloucestershire later this week.
The 31-year-old claimed refuge in Australia three years ago after fleeing his native Pakistan saying he was being persecuted by the Taliban.
A recent amendment to Australia’s Citizenship Act means that Fawad would be allowed to fast-track his passport application in time for the Ashes series, but the amendment has yet to pass the Senate.
Australia A will play Zimbabwe and South Africa A in three and four-day matches from July 18, with a one-day series to follow also including India A.
“Should replacements be required for the Ashes tour, these players will be playing in a similar time zone from during this time,” Inverarity said.
Australia A squad for Africa tour: Steve Smith (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Fawad Ahmed, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Alex Doolan, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Nic Maddinson, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tim Paine, Gurinder Sandhu, Chadd Sayers.
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