Saqib Mahmood not worried about Ashes call-up as he gets set to make BBL debut for Sydney Thunder

England fast bowler Saqib Mahmood said that he’s fully focussed on making his Big Bash League debut for the Sydney Thunder rather than pondering about getting called up for the Ashes. The speedster is set to ply his trade for the Sydney Thunder, led by Chris Green, in their next game against Brisbane Heat on Sunday, December 19 at The Gabba.

Mahmood has played T20I and ODI cricket for the Three Lions, but is yet to feature for them in the longest format. If one of England’s fast bowlers get injured during the five-match series, Mahmood is most likely to get called up. Mahmood was a part of the England Lions’ squad that played against Australia A last week.

“I’ve got a good base, got my loads up in Brisbane. It’s just about keeping those loads going for the rest of the BBL. A lot of the skills I’m practising, I’d probably have to put into use if called up. But I’m purely thinking about the Big Bash at the moment,” Mahmood was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

Saqib Mahmood eyeing T20 World Cup

Mahmood is one of the 15 Englishmen, who are a part of the ongoing BBL edition. The pacer is also looking to perform for the Thunder in order to break into the Brits’ squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.

“In world sport, it’s potentially the hardest side to break into. But if you play in that side, it shows your game is in a very good place and you take confidence from that. If I perform for the Thunder, it’ll hold me in good stead if I were to come back with the World Cup squad,” he stated

“Being around this environment, and around Trevor, will improve me as a cricketer. I’ve always wanted to play cricket in Australia … you obviously get a lot more pace and bounce compared to back home,” Mahmood added.

In seven ODIs and nine T20Is, Mahmood has picked up 14 and seven wickets respectively after making his debut in 2019. He performed to expectations when Pakistan toured England for a bilateral ODI and T20I series.