Shoaib Bashir RULED OUT of cricket after shattering billions of Indian hearts in Lord’s Test

The young England National Cricket Team off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has been ruled out of the remainder of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.

Ben Stokes confirmed this development after the end of the Lord's Test match against India and said that it's 'disappointing' and a 'big shame' that Shoaib Bashir will be unable to participate in the last two matches of the Test series.

'Injured' Shoaib Bashir stuns India at Lord's

The 21-year-old off-spinner sustained an injury during the third match against India at Lord's in London on Day 3 of the play in the 78th over of the innings.

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On the fifth ball of the over, Shoaib Bashir bowled a length ball to Ravindra Jadeja, who walked down the track and smashed it hard back to the bowler.

Bashir went for the low catch to his left, but he could not get hold of the ball and got hit brutally on his left pinkie finger. This blow broke the spinner's finger, and he is set to undergo surgery later this week.

Despite getting injured, Shoaib Bashir showed grit and came out to bat in England's second innings, facing nine balls and scoring two runs. Not just that, he was called into the field with a heavily taped hand when England were in search of the last two wickets.

Bashir handed the final blow to India in the match in his second spell after the tea. On the fifth ball of the 75th over, Bashir bowled a tossed-up delivery outside off-stump to Mohammed Siraj, who defended well, but the ball rolled into the leg-stump to dislodge the bails. India got bowled out for 170, and England clinched a 22-run win.

It's not good news for Bash - Ben Stokes

Speaking to reporters after the match, Stokes lauded Bashir's courageous efforts and confirmed the news of him missing the series. He said:

"It's not good news for Bash. Very disappointing for us as a team and for him, a big shame. The courage that he showed to go out there and bat at the end for us and willing to sit there on the bench waiting for his moment to come on and bowl just proves how much it means to everyone who gets the opportunity to put the shirt on, that not even a couple of breaks is going to stop anyone getting out there."

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Ben Stokes further highlighted how Shoaib Bashir showed bravery and came out to face Jasprit Bumrah in England's second innings. He said:

"What an amazing feeling for him to be able to take that wicket there and with his hand in the state that it's in, amazing. Very proud of the way that he went about the rest of the week after having to come off the field.

"There would be a lot of people who might not necessarily have been brave enough to go out there and face Bumrah and then also put himself up for wanting to get out there and bowl and help his team."

Ben Stokes in awe of Shoaib Bashir

The England captain also said that they were forced to bring in Shoaib Bashir on the field to break the momentum as India's last three surviving batters played well against the seam-bowling.

He added that Bashir was looking to somehow contribute in the match despite getting injured and was happy that the spinner got the last wicket.

"Every time I looked around at the bench and asked for a drink I'd just see Bash's little head peeking through there ready to go. We were told by the match officials that he could stay off the field when he wasn't bowling, but if he was bowling he had to stay out there," Stokes said.

"And look, we obviously threw a lot at their batting line-up today with seam so just breaking that flow of the game up with spin every now and again was something I was going to go to.

"We all thought it was a good option and it was great that Bash was able to get that last wicket with what he had to deal with this week."

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will soon name Bashir's replacement in the squad, and the likes of Liam Dawson and Jack Leach are in contention.