Bashir & Fernando poised for debuts as Glamorgan host Leicestershire

England spinner Shoaib Bashir and Sri Lankan quick Asitha Fernando are both poised to make their Glamorgan debuts in the season opener against Leicestershire in Cardiff.

Bashir has signed on a short team deal from Somerset as injury cover for Mason Crane, while Fernando is set to feature in the opening 7 rounds of the newly-named Rothesay County Championship. Both players are expected to make an immediate impact, as the Sophia Gardens based outfit look to challenge for promotion under new Head Coach, Richard Dawson.

Dawson has named a strong 13-player squad to face the visitors from Grace Road: Sam Northeast (#16 – Captain), Kiran Carlson (#5), Billy Root (#7), Ben Kellaway (#8), Andy Gorvin (#11), Ned Leonard (#22), Zain ul Hassan (#27), Shoaib Bashir (#29), Colin Ingram (#41), Chris Cooke (#46), Timm van der Gugten (#64), Aistha Fernando (#78), Eddie Byrom (#97).

The hosts will be looking to build on strong pre-season performances with the bat from Northeast, Carlson, Ingram and the talented youngster Kellaway in the recent fixture against Cardiff UCCE, when Kellaway shone for the visitors along with teammate Asa Tribe, who misses out on selection for the squad this week.

Leicestershire are led by the exceptional Australian Peter Handscomb, and have made some strong acquisitions over the winter with Dutchman Logan van Beek and Ben Green arriving to bolster their squad.

The pitch will as usual, play an important part in team selection, ahead of the toss at 10:30, and with the forecast set for dry and sunny conditions over the coming four days, this could well be a mouthwatering encounter that will excite the fans of both counties.