ECB Specially Flies Out Shoaib Bashir to Zimbabwe to Train Under Mushtaq Ahmed During Ongoing U-19 World Cup

Since his 2024 debut, Shoaib Bashir featured in a majority of England's matches until the 2025-26 Ashes, where he remained sidelined.

ECB Specially Flies Out Shoaib Bashir to Zimbabwe to Train Under Mushtaq Ahmed During Ongoing U-19 World Cup

The ECB has sent England Bashir to train with Pakistani spin-bowling legend Mushtaq Ahmed, in Zimbabwe. (via ESPN)

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It has not been an easy road for England spinner Shoaib Bashir, having been excluded throughout the entirety of the 2025-26 Ashes series. He is currently in Zimbabwe, working on his skills with former Pakistani spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, during the ongoing U-19 World Cup.

When a video of Shoaib Bashir bowling to Alastair Cook emerged back in 2023, England Test captain Ben Stokes was impressed. Stokes then convinced head coach Brendon McCullum and director Rob Key to pick the young talent. Bashir made his Test debut for England in February 2024, becoming a regular in the team. To date, he has taken 68 wickets, including four five-wicket hauls, in 19 Test matches at an average of 39.

The 22-year-old, despite being picked in England’s 2025-26 Ashes, did not get a single opportunity to feature in the 1-4 series defeat to the Australians. The team management had emphasized in the build-up to the 2025-26 Ashes that Bashir would be a suitable pick in conditions Down Under. Bashir, however, was overlooked for all five matches, with spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks being preferred instead. 

Bashir’s current exclusion has raised doubts about his future with the team. Adding to this uncertainty, his contract with County side Somerset expired last year, and he had been seeking a new club for a while, with England team director Rob Key reportedly advising the 22-year-old not to make demands for more playing time. Nevertheless, the ECB still believes in the off-spinner and has arranged for him to have one-on-one coaching sessions with the legendary Pakistani spinner, Mushtaq Ahmed.

Ahmed, who played for Pakistan from 1990 to 2003, is currently serving as a spin-bowling consultant for the England side at the 2026 ICC U-19 World Cup. In preparation for the 2026 County season, Bashir has traveled to Harare, Zimbabwe, to receive one-on-one skills coaching from Ahmed.

The former Pakistani spinner is highly respected in English coaching circles, having previously worked with legendary bowlers such as Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar early in their careers.

Furthermore, Shoaib Bashir was also photographed on the sidelines of England’s Under-19 World Cup encounter against Scotland. Following his coaching with the legendary spinner, it remains to be seen whether the 22-year-old has developed as a player.

Shoaib Bashir secures Derbyshire move ahead of 2026 County Championship season

England spinner Shoaib Bashir has signed a two-year deal with second-division side Derbyshire, ahead of the 2026 County Championships. The 22-year-old has been forced to make this switch, after his previous contract with Somerset came to an end last year. 

Shoaib Bashir Derbyshire
Shoaib Bashir has signed a two-year contract with Derbyshire ahead of the the 2025 County season. (via BBC)

The young spinner struggled for play time for the past few seasons with the Taunton-based club. He was well behind Jack Leach at Somerset, with the 34-year-old having picked up 52 wickets to finish among the highest wicket-takers last season. The emergence of spin-bowling all-rounder Archie Vaughan, the son of former England captain Michael Vaughan, also meant the end of the road for Bashir at Somerset. 

The Surrey-born off-spinner spent the 2024 and 2025 County seasons on loan with Worcestershire and Glamorgan, respectively, before recently moving to Derbyshire. Having played 35 First-class matches and claimed 87 wickets at an average of 50.04, it remains to be seen if Shoaib Bashir manages to revive his career at the County Second Division club under the guidance of legendary coach Mickey Arthur.

Shoaib Bashir last played for England during the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, where he picked up ten wickets in three matches against India. He had, however, recorded his first six-wicket haul in the second innings of a Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, last year. 

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