/betbarter/media/agency_attachments/3YXcMKaocLoKtpo5Mw2o.png)
/betbarter/media/media_files/95vVM4DSOBHuTkFMpabR.png)
Shoaib Bashir (File Photo: Twitter)
In a recent piece of news, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced England men’s squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against India next year in January. Meanwhile, there is also a surprising inclusion in the squad, the name of whom is not known to most of the people in the cricketing fraternity.
He is the 20-year-old off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who earlier played in the youth cricket of Surrey from the age of 9 to 18. Later, he featured for Berkshire U18 followed by his debut in the prestigious English County Championship for Somerset at the age of 19. Bashir made his first-ever appearance in the First-Class cricket earlier this year in June.
An Amazing Journey of Shoaib Bashir from Surrey to Somerset
Bashir scalped 10 wickets in his debut county season for Somerset which earned him a maiden call to the training camp of England Lions, which recently concluded in UAE.
“It's been a mad, mad journey,” said Bashir to The Cricketer while making his debut against Sir Alastair Cook’s Essex in the County Championship 2023.
I've always dreamed about being a professional cricketer. It means the world. I'm going to keep working hard, keep grinding and hopefully maintain this level. There is still a lot to work on,” he added later.
Interestingly, Shoaib Bashir’s total age is less than the Test career of his senior-most teammate and veteran England pacer James Anderson, who has spent almost 21 years in England Test cap, while Bashir recently turned 20 two months back in October 2023.
Speaking of Shoaib Bashir’s First-Class career for Somerset, he has played 6 matches so far and scalped 10 wickets while bowling in 10 innings of these matches, with an impressive economy rate of 3.30.
Here’s a look at England’s squad for the Test series against India:
Ben Stokes (C), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow (WK), Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes (WK), Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, and Mark Wood.