Shoaib Bashir

England’s Shoaib Bashir played for Glamorgan on a short-term loan from Somerset during the opening three Championship matches of the 2025 season, as well as the friendly against Cardiff UCCE at Sophia Gardens when the off-spinner might have claimed a wicket in his third over but having deceived the student batter, the ball cannoned into the stumps but the bails did not drop.

His temporary deal came about following a shoulder injury sustained by Mason Crane which ruled the leg-spinner out of the opening months of the season and resulted in the 6 foot 4 inch off-spinner becoming the first centrally contracted England international since Simon Jones to feature for the Welsh county.

Photo Credit – Glamorgan Cricket Archives

The 21 year-old had emerged as England’s go-to spinner during 2024 having been propelled onto the international stage earlier in the year having been chosen for the tour to India having made just six first-class appearances for Somerset. With a tall action and high release point, Shoaib belied his inexperience and claimed a pair of five-wicket hauls during his first three Tests. He duly usurped his county colleague Jack Leach as England’s first choice spin option for the summer series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, as well as recording career-best figures of 5/41 in the second Test at Trent Bridge against the Caribbean side.

2024 also saw the Surrey-born spinner play on-loan with Worcestershire, whilst during 2024/25 he also featured on the England Lions tour of Australia. Educated at Fulbrook School and Woking College, Shoaib also played age-group cricket for both Surrey and Middlesex, as well as appearing in National County cricket for Berkshire.

Shoaib Bashir

Born – Chertsey, Surrey, 13 October 2003

Best performances for Glamorgan:

In first-class cricket – 22* and 2/127 v Gloucestershire at Bristol, 2025;

Batting and Fielding Record (as at 13/10/2025)