Amar Virdi hopes to become 3rd Sikh to play for England

Southampton, June 27

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Amar Virdi (21), who could become only the third Sikh to play for the England cricket team, is excited about the prospect. Virdi is confident of cutting through the competition and earning a place in England team for the three-Test series against West Indies, which begins on July 8. The young off-spinner, who turns 22 next month, has played only 23 First-Class matches and will have to beat more experienced spinners like Jack Leach, Dom Bess, Matt Parkinson and Moeen Ali to get into the Test squad.

“Obviously I’m here so I want to be playing Test cricket whenever that comes, so I’m going to keep on trying my hardest to make sure that I’m playing,” the Surrey spinner, who was included in England’s 30-man squad earlier this month, said. Virdi could become only the third Sikh to represent England after Monty Panesar and Ravi Bopara. — TNS & agencies