Ajmal Shahzad

Ajmal Shahzad showed his great potential at an early age after becoming the first British-born Asian player to represent Yorkshire and has since developed into one of England's brightest emerging talents.

Born in Huddersfield, but raised in Bradford, Shahzad’s historic debut came during a Totesport League match against Worcestershire back in 2004 and underlined Yorkshire’s faith in his ability.

Injuries have since restricted his progress, but England’s selectors have monitored his development and were significantly impressed with his 2009 performances to firstly call him into the Performance Programme in South Africa before handing him his first senior squad call-up to UAE and Bangladesh in February, 2010.

An enterprising fast-medium seam bowler and useful lower order batsman, Shahzad claimed an impressive 41 wickets during the summer of 2009 at an average of 34.26 and scored 451 championship runs at a healthy average of 37.58.

His ability to perform under pressure manifested itself towards the end of that season when Yorkshire were facing the prospect of relegation from the LV County Championship’s top division.

Needing victory in one of their final two matches to stay up, Shahzad made a significant contribution to their win over Sussex, hitting 88 and sharing in a 157-run eighth wicket stand with David Wainwright before claiming four for 84.

He took that form onto the Performance Programme tour of South Africa before Christmas, where he impressed the selectors sufficiently to earn a call-up for his first senior squad.

Impressing once again, Shahzad earned his reward in Bangladesh by being given his England debut in the final one-day international in Chittagong, claiming a wicket in his first over. He was also included in England's squad for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in West Indies and capped a whirlwind six months by making his Test debut against Bangladesh at Old Trafford in June, 2010.

Shahzad spent the majority of the 2012 season on loan at Lancashire before joining Nottinghamshire permanently at the end of the season.