Shoaib Bashir clarified that his celebration in England’s win over the West Indies at Trent Bridge was not an imitation of Chelsea forward Cole Palmer’s style, revealing that he doesn’t follow football closely.
After taking 5-41 in the second innings and dismissing Alick Athanaze, Bashir celebrated by rubbing his arms as if he was cold, a gesture similar to Palmer’s goal celebrations for Chelsea and England. When his teammates suggested he was copying Palmer, Bashir was puzzled.
Bashir joked that perhaps Palmer had copied him, insisting it was a natural celebration for him since he doesn’t watch much football. His third five-wicket haul in five Tests justified England's choice to pick the 20-year-old over Jack Leach, who had been the primary spinner since Ben Stokes became captain two years ago. Leach remains ahead of Bashir at Somerset, leading to Bashir's loan to Worcestershire earlier this summer to gain more playing time.
Reflecting on his journey, Bashir acknowledged that Leach was rightfully getting selected ahead of him. He mentioned that going on loan was necessary to play at a high level, accentuating his desire to play as much cricket as possible.
Bashir shared that he and Leach had discussed the announcement of the England squad, with Leach expressing happiness for him and advising him to enjoy the experience, especially with the home crowd support. Bashir valued the guidance from Leach, considering him a class spinner from whom he learned a lot.
Although Bashir did not bowl in his first home Test at Lord's, he performed well at Trent Bridge with conditions favouring batting, taking five wickets in the second innings after an unsatisfactory first innings.
Bashir highlighted that his height (6ft 4in) contributed to his selection for the tour of India despite a high first-class average. He acknowledged that bowling spin in England is challenging, but noted the advantages of extra bounce and the rewards that come later in Tests.
With 24 wickets in his first five Tests, Bashir remains dedicated to improving his skills, recognising that there is always more to learn. He expressed confidence in his abilities and his commitment to soaking in all the experiences.