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- Saqib Mahmood signed a three-year white-ball deal with Lancashire on Friday
- But the 27-year-old fast bowler is hopeful of representing England in the Ashes
- The next Ashes series will start in November 2025 and end in January 2026
Saqib Mahmood hopes he can force his way into England’s plans for next winter’s Ashes — despite signing a white-ball contract with his county.
The fast bowler played two Tests in the West Indies in March 2022 but then suffered consecutive back stress fractures and has not worn England whites since.
On Friday, Lancashire announced Mahmood had penned a three-year white-ball deal, with just an ‘option’ to play red-ball cricket. But while that appeared to suggest the 27-year-old was moving on from the longer format, he insists he is as eager as ever to return to Tests.
‘I would love to play Test cricket again,’ Mahmood tells Mail Sport. ‘If I can get through the winter injury-free, I can maybe get a red ball in hand next summer and try to get back into that Test team.
‘I made it through this summer without any injuries and hopefully I can keep doing the right things now and that’s all behind me. But I’ve just got to be smart.’
Fast bowler Saqib Mahmood played two Tests for England in the West Indies in March 2022
The 27-year-old has not played international Test cricket since then but is eying an Ashes spot
Mahmood (right) represented England against Australia in a T20 international in September
Mahmood has played just four County Championship matches since his two Tests in the Caribbean, when he took six wickets at 22.83. However, under the leadership of Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, England have shown they are happy to select players regardless of their number of red-ball games.
Mahmood is also one of the few genuine quicks in the country, with England making no secret of their desire to take a battery of fast bowlers to Australianext winter.
‘I know what I bring to the table and if it’s something that fits the bill, which I hope it does, then hopefully it will be good enough,’ says Mahmood, speaking at the launch of cinch’s new store in Manchester. ‘I’d like to think over the next six to 12 months, as I keep getting stronger, my pace should go up again.’