England's Bashir open to leaving Somerset

England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir is unfastened to leaving Somerset erstwhile his statement expires astatine nan extremity of nan play successful bid to play much region cricket.

The 21-year-old is first-choice spinner for Ben Stokes' Test squad but down left-armer Jack Leach successful nan pecking bid astatine Taunton.

Bashir had 3 County Championship matches connected indebtedness astatine Glamorgan earlier this play and 1 lucifer for Worcestershire successful 2024.

As reported by ESPNCricinfo,, external Bashir is now free to speak to different counties as, from 1 June each year, players pinch expiring contracts are permitted to discuss pinch different clubs.

Bashir played age-group cricket for Surrey, but nan defending region champions are not thought to beryllium successful nan moving for his signature.

Bashir signed a two-year woody pinch Somerset successful 2023, and was past picked for England's circuit of India nan pursuing twelvemonth aft playing only six first-class matches.

Despite a humble home grounds – Bashir's mean successful nan County Championship is 84 – he has thrived for his state nether Stokes' leadership.

He was man of nan lucifer successful nan one-off Test against Zimbabwe past period pinch career-best lucifer figures of 9-143, which besides included Bashir becoming nan youngest England man to scope 50 Test wickets.

While he has replaced Leach arsenic England's number 1 spinner, Somerset person kept religion pinch nan 33-year-old arsenic their first choice.

Bashir's way to Somerset's first XI is further analyzable by nan emergence of 19-year-old Archie Vaughan, who provides an all-round action pinch his off-breaks.

Any imaginable move for Bashir would hinge connected nan opportunity to play much and accelerate his development.