BD pacer Shoriful Islam in talks to join Essex for T20 Blast

Agency :

Bangladesh left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam might soon get a big opportunity to showcase his talent in England, as the 23-year-old pacer is currently in discussions with Essex to play in the upcoming T20 Blast, scheduled from May to September this year.

Essex is in advanced talks with Shoriful, and if all goes well, he could make his debut in the T20 Blast. However, he is expected to be available only from May to July due to Bangladesh’s international commitments.

While the potential move excites fans, Shoriful’s participation will depend on securing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

Bangladesh has a busy international calendar during that period, including an ODI and T20I series against Zimbabwe at home, followed by a tour of Pakistan in May and another white-ball series against Sri Lanka in June.

So far, Shoriful, who has claimed 12 wickets in 10 matches for Chittagong Kings in the ongoing BPL, hasn’t formally applied for an NOC.

While players from India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka regularly feature in English county cricket, Bangladeshi cricketers have rarely had such opportunities. This is partly due to the national team’s packed schedule and inconsistent individual performances.

Shakib Al Hasan remains the most notable Bangladeshi cricketer to have played county cricket, representing Surrey in 2023 and Worcestershire in the County Championship back in 2010 and 2011. He also featured in the T20 Blast for Worcestershire (2011) and Leicestershire (2013).
Other Bangladeshi players with county cricket experience include Tamim Iqbal and Mustafizur Rahman. Tamim played for Nottinghamshire in 2011 and Essex in 2017, while Mustafizur had a brief stint with Sussex in the 2016 T20 Blast.

If the deal goes through, Shoriful could become the latest addition to this exclusive list, potentially gaining valuable experience to revive his international form.