Test duo make Glamorgan debuts v Leicestershire

Shoaib Bashir (left) played in Glamorgan's pre-season game against Cardiff UCCE but Asitha Fernando (right) is yet to play in Glamorgan whites

County Championship Division Two: Glamorgan v Leicestershire

Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff Date: Thursday, 4 to Monday, 7 April TIme: 11:00 BST

Coverage: Live commentary via BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website and app. Updates on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Leicester.

Glamorgan will give competitive debuts to England spinner Shoaib Bashir and Sri Lanka paceman Asitha Fernando in their opening Championship game against Leicestershire in Cardiff.

Bashir, 21, has joined on loan from Somerset for three matches as injury cover for Mason Crane.

He has played 15 Test matches but only 12 other first-class games.

Fernando, who has made 49 appearances across all formats for Sri Lanka, is with Glamorgan for at least two months.

They are the only two newcomers in the 13-man squad named by new coach Richard Dawson, although fast bowler Ned Leonard has now officially joined from Somerset after playing on loan in September 2024.

Leicestershire are led by Australian Peter Handscomb, who takes over the four-day captaincy from Lewis Hill.

All-rounder Ben Kellaway comes into the Glamorgan squad after playing against them for Cardiff UCCE in a warm-up friendly, with Tom Bevan and Ben Morris dropping out.

Glamorgan's bowling resources have been depleted, with Crane (shoulder), James Harris (calf), Dan Douthwaite (pec) and Jamie McIlroy (concussion) all picking up pre-season injuries.

Glamorgan finished sixth in Division Two of the Championship in 2024, one place and nine points behind Leicestershire.

Glamorgan (from): Byrom, Ul Hassan, Northeast (capt), Carlson, Ingram, Root, Cooke (wk), Kellaway, Van der Gugten, Gorvin, Leonard, Bashir, Fernando.

Leicestershire (from): Patel, Budinger, Holland, Hill, Handscomb (capt), Ahmed, Kimber, Cox (wk), Trevaskis, Mike, B Green, Scriven, Wright.