Leeds Sport
Shahzad: I need top displays to earn Ashes berth
9:21pm Friday 3rd September 2010
Ajmal Shahzad believes he needs to do 'something special' over the next three weeks to ensure his seat on the plane to Australia this winter is secured.
And the former Windhill pace bowler, who joins up with the England one-day squad next week, is hoping that he can start with a memorable display for Yorkshire in tomorrow's Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Essex at Headingley.
"I am obviously delighted to be in the squad, but now I have got to show the selectors what I can do," said the 25-year-old.
"I have just got to keep working hard and do something special to get on that plane to Australia."
It could be that tomorrow's final group match is Shahzad's last for the county this season, with England set to play five one-day matches against Pakistan.
Shahzad continued: "It would be nice to go out with a bang against Essex if it is to be my last game.
"But, if I am not involved in the one-day series, I want to come back and be involved with Yorkshire as much as possible."
Shahzad has taken 32 wickets in 15 matches in all forms of cricket for Yorkshire this season.
He impressed on his Test debut against Bangladesh at Old Trafford back in June, but his summer has stalled somewhat since due to injury.
"I am confident on my batting at the moment, but my bowling is not quite there," he commented.
"I still need to get some confidence under my belt before joining up with England, so Essex is a very important game for me.
"I have missed a lot of this season for Yorkshire already, and, of course, you miss it when you are away with England. But it is a great privilege to play for your country.
"The lads here at Yorkshire have always made it really easy to fit back into the dressing room, and it has been going really well for us, even without me and Tim Bresnan."
Shahzad will get a taste of the circus that is surrounding England and Pakistan at the moment.
The three Pakistani players involved in the spot-fixing scandal have been suspended by the ICC, and there is sure to be massive media interest in the series.
But, with winter places to secure, the England players have other things on their mind, as Shahzad added: "It is nothing to do with us, so we have just got to stay completely focused on our jobs."
Yorkshire have named a 13-man squad for tomorrow's match. Bresnan is the only one missing from the team that beat Northamptonshire on Wednesday.
David Wainwright, Ben Sanderson and Moin Ashraf have all been included.
A win for Essex will secure their place in the last four.