Fawad Khan Ahmed

About Fawad Khan Ahmed

Fawad Khan Ahmed is an unlikely yet inspiring figure in Australian cricket, whose journey to success is a testament to hard work and perseverance.

Fleeing Pakistan in 2010 after he was persecuted by religious extremists for his work with an NGO that helped educate women, Ahmed arrived in Australia as an asylum seeker. In 2012, he was granted permanent residency and began to chase his cricket dreams.

Having performed well in Melbourne grade cricket, the leg-spinner made his Big Bash League debut for a Victorian team and then starred for Victoria in the second half of the 2012-13 season. His impressive form caught the attention of his captain, Cameron White, and former Test batsman Damien Martyn, who hailed him as the best spinner in Australia since Shane Warne.

Ahmed’s international limited-overs debut in August 2013 marked a significant milestone, thanks to a collaborative effort between Cricket Australia and the federal government to expedite his citizenship.

Ahmed’s decision to decline the logo of the team’s beer sponsor on his uniform on his debut attracted controversy. However, this incident was just a precursor to his impressive performances on the field, including taking 21 wickets in his first full Sheffield Shield season with Victoria the following summer and six wickets in four Ryobi Cup matches.

His outstanding form continued in the following seasons, with Ahmed becoming the leading Shield wicket-taker in 2014-15. Collecting 48 victims, including a best of 8/89, at 24.85, he was instrumental in helping the Bushrangers win the silverware that year.