"Shoaib Bashir Won't Play Against India.."- Michael Vaughan

While acknowledging spinner Shoaib Bashir’s talent, former England captain Michael Vaughan has said that the youngster is unlikely to get a chance in the playing eleven during the five-match Test series in India. England will tour India next month for the highly-anticipated series

They have already announced a 16-member squad for the series. Shoaib Bashir along with uncapped duo Gus Atkinson and Tom Hartley has earned his maiden call-up from the England Test side. The 20-year-old earned the call-up after impressing during a recent training camp with England Lions in the United Arab Emirates. He has a modest first-class record and has picked up 10 wickets in 6 games at an average of 67 so far.

Michael Vaughan on Shoaib Bashir’s inclusion in the Test team:

Shoaib Bashir’s inclusion in the Test team for the challenging tour of India has surprised many. As far as Michael Vaughan is concerned, he has called the youngster ‘very talented. However, the former England captain has expressed doubt about whether the spinner will get a chance to play in any of the games during the series in India.

“I’ve seen quite a lot of (Bashir) because I go down to Somerset to watch a bit of cricket, he’s very talented and has a nice release of the ball,” Michael Vaughan said while speaking on Fox Sports.

“He gets nice drift, a bit of flight… Bashir is a young kid, everything to gain for the future, a huge amount to gain by being in India. I don’t think he will play. I think Joe Root’s off-spin will be where they go in the off-spin department but he might sneak a game down the back end if they aren’t going so well,” he added.

Meanwhile, the five-match Test series between India and England is scheduled to get underway on January 25 in Hyderabad. The last Test series between the two sides played in England ended in a 2-2 draw. England have not won a Test series in India since the 2012/13 season and will be looking to end their long wait in the upcoming series.

England Squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper), Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood