England’s Young Spinners Reflect on Upcoming Pakistan Test Series

The upcoming Test series between England and Pakistan holds a special significance for two of England’s promising young spinners, Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir. Both players have familial ties to Pakistan, as their fathers were born there, adding a personal dimension to the series.

Rehan Ahmed, aged 20, has already made his mark in Pakistan by becoming the youngest player to play Test cricket for England. He also set a record as the youngest leg-spinner to achieve a five-wicket haul on his debut. Reflecting on his experiences, Ahmed shares fond memories of playing in Pakistan where his England career took off less than two years ago.

Shoaib Bashir, also 20, will accompany the team to Pakistan for the first time. He expressed a mix of excitement and nostalgia, noting how he and his brother would mimic England and Pakistan cricket matches in their backyard. “Growing up, I’ve always watched and loved the way they play,” Bashir told the BBC Asian Network. “I’m looking forward to it, but it will be a bit weird because of how much we watch Pakistan cricket [in the family],” he added.

Both Bashir and Ahmed are seen as role models within the British South Asian community, alongside fellow cricketers Adil Rashid and the recently retired Moeen Ali. Despite the presence of approximately 30% of recreational cricketers in England and Wales being of South Asian descent, fewer than 5% reach the professional level.

The issue of diversity and inclusion in cricket was highlighted by former England and Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq, who delivered testimony regarding racism and discrimination. To address this gap, initiatives like the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) have been established. The program aims to coach and mentor aspiring cricketers, helping them secure contracts with domestic teams.

Bashir credits a stroke of luck and the visibility provided by the academy for his position in the England squad. After being released by Surrey in his teens, Bashir joined Somerset, but it was a viral video of him bowling to Sir Alastair Cook that caught the attention of England’s Test captain Ben Stokes, propelling him into the national team.

Rehan Ahmed, who grew up in Nottingham and currently plays for Leicestershire, praised the academy for cultivating professional talent. He views the inclusion of Jafer Chohan in the squad for a tour of the West Indies as evidence of England’s evolving approach to talent selection. “They have produced a lot of professional cricketers and it’s a very good initiative,” Ahmed remarked.

Ahmed added that the evolving environment makes players feel secure about their futures, knowing they are supported. “We also know we’re backed 100% which is very nice,” Ahmed stated.