Former Pakistani picked to represent Australia in upcoming cricket tours

Pakistani-born Fawad Ahmed has been rewarded for his stellar domestic cricket season by being selected in the Australian squad for the upcoming Test tours against the West Indies and England.

Ahmed, 33, who has been an Australian citizen since 2013, was named on Tuesday in the squad along with two other uncapped players, veteran Western Australia batsman Adam Voges and NSW wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.

There were suggestions young WA spinner Ashton Agar might get the nod ahead of Ahmed, but he missed out on the squad, as did all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and incumbent Test batsman Joe Burns. However all three were named in an Australia A squad that will play matches in July.

Ahmed was awarded Australian citizenship after making the journey from Pakistan in 2010. He settles in Melbourne and plays for Melbourne University.

His selection caps off a brilliant summer for Victoria in the domestic Sheffield Shield competition; he took a record 48 wickets over the season, including a match-winning 8-89 in the final against Western Australia earlier this month.

Selector Rod Marsh said on Tuesday Ahmed and Veteran Adam Voges were easy first-time picks for the selectors.

"They thoroughly deserve their call-up and the opportunity to be a part of this squad," Marsh said.

"We believe that both can play important roles in the side if required."

Voges, if selected for the Tests, would be Australia's second oldest Test debutant at 35.

World Cup heroes James Faulkner and Maxwell were both left out of the test squad in favor of more experienced longer-form players Mitch Marsh and Shane Watson, while paceman Peter Siddle also gets a chance to reinvigorate his career.

New South Welshman Peter Nevill was selected as the back-up wicketkeeper to take on tour, keeping Victorian Matthew Wade out of the squad.

Marsh said Nevill's domestic season with bat, as well as gloves, warranted an Australian call-up.

"He deserves his opportunity through weight of runs and performances behind the stumps," Marsh said.

Veteran paceman Ryan Harris was also featured on the 17-man list, but will only join the team in England for the Ashes, as he will attend the birth of his child during Australia's time in the Caribbean.

The squad will be captained by Michael Clarke, who announced his retirement from the one-day format last week, with Steve Smith named as his vice-captain.

The two-Test series against the West Indies begins on June 6, and the five-Test series against England begins on July 8.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR WEST INDIES AND ASHES: Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith (vc), Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris (Ashes only), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson. Endi