Somerset and England 0ff-spinner Shoaib Bashir has been loaned out to Worcestershire for six games in the summer of 2024.
These include five matches in the ongoing T20 Blast – against Northamptonshire at Northampton on June 7; against Leicestershire at Grace Road on June 9; and the three home matches at New Road, against Nottinghamshire on June 14, against Northamptonshire on June 16, and against Birmingham Bears (Warwickshire) on June 21.
The sixth match will be a County Championship game against Surrey at New Road from June 23.
“We are delighted to have Shoaib Bashir join us on loan,” said Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson. “Shoaib is a player of immense talent and potential, and we believe his presence will significantly strengthen our squad for the Vitality Blast and our next Championship fixture against Surrey.”
“We’re confident that he will make a positive impact from tonight’s game against Northamptonshire. We’re excited to welcome him, and we are looking forward to seeing him in action.”
Bashir had played five T20 matches in 2023, his debut year, but none this season. Of his 12 first-class games, three of them have been in this summer, across which he has taken four wickets at 74.75. However, with Jack Leach returning from injury, Bashir hasn't played since April. His career record stands at 31 wickets at 49.54 apiece.
Bashir made his Test debut earlier this year in India, and fared reasonably well, topping the averages chart for England with 17 wickets from three Tests at 33.35. He had played only six first-class matches when he got his Test cap. Among all England players since the First World War, only Rehan Ahmed (three first-class matches) has played Test cricket with less experience than Bashir.
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