Pakistani-origin quick Moin Ashraf says would like to emulate Root by earning England call

Islamabad: Pakistani-origin fast bowler Moin Ashraf has claimed he would like to emulate Yorkshire teammate Joe Root by breaking into the England team. A Bradford-born fast-medium bowler, Moin made his first-class debut against Loughborough University in May 2010 and signed his first professional contract for Yorkshire at the end of the 2010 season.

Ashraf made an impact in the last two matches of the Championship season by taking three wickets on his debut in a win over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge and following up with 5 for 32 against Kent at Headingley. In 2012, Moin took 17 wickets in eight Championship matches, including 4 for 36 in the first innings to help Yorkshire clinch their return to Division One with a comprehensive victory over Essex at Chelmsford in the last match of the season. Ashraf was selected for the Potential England Performance Programme Squad for the 2011/12 winter which involved attendance of the ECB``s National Academy in Loughborough, a three-week camp in Sri Lanka and fast bowler training in India. Ashraf said he is happy for Root, as he has developed into an outstanding cricketer in such a short space of time, adding his Yorkshire teammate was tipped for success at a very early age Ashraf said Root has worked hard to get in the England team, and he would like to emulate him to get a call in the national team. Ashraf said he started his county cricket spell an year earlier than Root but the latter`s fantastic last season meant he got a call in the England set up, and he add it indicates how quickly things can change in cricket. ANI