Shoaib Bashir set to retain ECB contract despite limited Test appearances
Shoaib Bashir will keep his ECB contract despite limited Test opportunities this summer, with England favouring other spin options at home.
England spinner Shoaib Bashir is set to retain his ECB contract for the 2026-27 cycle despite playing only two Tests in the past 12 months. The ECB's contract announcement, which had been expected this week, has been pushed back to next week, and Bashir's name is among those set to feature on the list.
Bashir, who turns 23 next week, played twice in England's 2-1 series loss to New Zealand this summer but was an unused squad member throughout their 3-0 win over Pakistan. His prospects of selection fell sharply after Ben Stokes' international retirement forced England to rebalance their Test team.
Bashir's inclusion reflects the ECB's broader approach to player security, even when appearances have been limited. The ECB offered 26 men's central contracts last year alongside four pace-bowling development contracts, and those retirements could prompt the total number of offers to grow slightly.
CricHubb Take
The ECB is keeping Bashir on the books because they see him as a long-term asset, not because he has earned his place in the current XI. That approach carries risk if the next generation of spinners emerges before he gets regular opportunities.