Shoaib Bashir Ruled Out of Final Two Tests After Finger Injury. England suffered a major setback ahead of the fourth Test in the ongoing five-match series against India, as young spinner Shoaib Bashir has been ruled out of the remaining matches in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. The 20-year-old sustained a finger injury while attempting to stop a ball off his own bowling during the third Test at Lord’s.
The incident occurred on Day 3 of the match when Shoaib Bashir hurt his finger trying to field a ball in his follow-through. He left the field and missed most of the remainder of the game. Despite the injury, he showed great resilience by returning to bat in the second innings, managing 2 runs from 9 balls, and even bowled with a heavily strapped non-bowling hand.
Bashir played a key role in England’s dramatic 22-run win, claiming the final wicket of India’s innings to seal victory at Lord’s. His contribution helped England take a 2-1 lead in the series, giving them crucial momentum heading into the fourth Test.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected to name a replacement shortly. Left-arm spinners Jack Leach and Liam Dawson are reportedly in contention for selection ahead of the fourth Test, which is set to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Shoaib Bashir: England clinched a thrilling victory at Lord’s, defeating India by 22 runs.
In what turned out to be a fiercely contested Test match, both teams showcased tremendous grit and determination. Despite strong performances from both sides, it was Ben Stokes’ England who edged past India with a narrow win.
The final day was packed with drama. India began the day needing 135 runs to win but suffered an early collapse, losing four key wickets in the opening session. Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 61 and, along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, fought valiantly to take the game into the final session. However, Siraj’s unfortunate dismissal sealed India’s fate, handing England a hard-fought 22-run win.
