Cricket: Spot fixing bowler to return to international cricket in NZ

Spot fixing fast bowler Mohammad Amir. Photo / Getty Images.

Spot fixing fast bowler Mohammad Amir is in line to return to international cricket in New Zealand next month.

The gifted left armer has been included in a 26-man conditioning camp to prepare for the tour, in which they will play three T20s and three ODIs from January 15-31.

In turn, the New Zealand tour will be a pointer to selection for the world T20 in India in March.

Amir, 23, was banned for five years for spot fixing in a test against England at Lord's in 2010, along with team mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif.

His ban ended in September but he has been playing domestic cricket since last January.

In the recent Bangladesh Premier League, he finished top wicket taker for the Chittagong Vikings.

Amir, who has taken 51 wickets in 14 tests at 29.09 and toured New Zealand in 2009, won't necessarily get an easy passage back into the national team.

Reservations have been expressed by some players about sharing a dressing room again with Amir.

Most vocal has been the top class opener Mohammad Hafeez, who pulled out of playing for Chittagong when he discovered he'd be playing alongside Amir.

"It is not about individuals or any personality clash," Hafeeez, 35, and who averages 40.85 with nine centuries, has said.

''It is about the image of Pakistan cricket. I cannot play with any player who has tarnished and brought a bad name to the country."

Hafeez, who refused to face Amir in the nets at a practice session in Lahore recently because of his tainted past, is said to merely be one of several leading players opposed to Amir's return, and that of either Butt or Asif.

However the Pakistan Cricket Board have said they are open to considering him for the tour and working to settle any misgivings among the other players.