WCCC
Hamza Shaikh: How hallway practice led to England Lions
4 min watch
Hamza on the up
Warwickshire Academy graduate Hamza Shaikh capped a memorable 2023 with England selection for the Under-19s 2024 World Cup.
The 17-year-old made his senior Bears debut in August 2022 when he opened the batting in the One Day Cup against Sussex at Edgbaston.
He made an accomplished 25 and looked every inch a first-team player.
Hamza made five appearances in the Metro Bank One Day Cup in 2023, scoring 65 in five innings. That included a mature 38 in the opening game at Somerset when he helped steady the Bears reply which had stuttered with three wickets falling for 15 runs.
Hamza starred for England U19s in a Quadrangular Series in India at the end of 2023, top scoring in the tournament with 464 runs. That included two centuries, while his 126 against Bangladesh U19’s was the highest score of the competition.
A student at Eden Boys School, Perry Barr, Hamza started his club career with Smethwick before moving across to Knowle & Dorridge.
“It’s a brilliant feeling to be selected for your country. Playing the Quadrangular Series in India was an amazing experience but the World Cup is the next level.”
