Shahzad gearing up to break down barriers

Now he is a member of England's one-day team and about to take part in the Twenty20 World Cup.

It has been a remarkable rise for the 24-year-old pace bowler, who first hit the headlines in 2004 when he became the first British-born Asian to play for Yorkshire.

This time last year, Shahzad had played only eight first-class games after a number of injuries stunted his progress.

But 41 wickets in 14 County Championship matches made him Yorkshire's second-leading wicket-taker in 2009 and triggered his call-up for the tour to Bangladesh.

"The way it's taken off for me has shocked me, to be honest," said Shahzad, one of 15 players named in England's World Cup squad for the tournament that starts in the Caribbean on April 30.

"This time last year my goal was simply to get into the Yorkshire first team and it's amazing how things have gone for me since.

"I'd like to think I've matured having been given the responsibility of playing first-team cricket last summer and I'm grateful to Yorkshire for the faith they've shown in me.

"The coaching staff have filled me with a lot of confidence and their motivation and encouragement has been second to none."

After catching the eye during the England Performance Programme tour to South Africa before Christmas, when England coach Andy Flower described him as "an impressive young man", Shahzad was elevated to the senior side for the trip to Bangladesh.

Although not chosen for the Test matches, he played a Twenty20 international and a one-day international, creating a favourable impression with his pace and aggression.

"It was an unbelievable learning experience," Shahzad enthused. "Bangladesh was completely different to anywhere I'd ever been and it was an education to go out there and play on flat wickets and see what it takes to perform at international level.

"The conditions were extremely difficult and demanding – it was so hot you were shattered after bowling just three overs in the nets – but I hope I've come back a much better bowler.

"I reckon that if you can get through four or five overs on the bounce in Bangladesh you can get through eight, nine or 10 overs on the bounce in England, and I look and feel fitter than I've ever been."

Naturally ebullient and refreshingly outspoken, Shahzad initially took a back seat in the England dressing room.

"I couldn't really walk in there and be my Yorkshire self straight away!" he laughed. "There's a lot of personalities in there and I was kind of conservative to start off with and fairly quiet.

"However, the lads were a really nice bunch and as I got to know a few individuals I became slightly more outspoken and showed my real self.

"People like Kevin Pietersen, for example, were absolutely spot on; it was great to have those guys around me and they supported me a lot."

Despite having forced his way into England's one-day set-up, Shahzad is refusing to get carried away.

He recognises he is still a novice at international level and that he must continue to work hard to realise his ultimate ambition of playing Test cricket.

"I can't afford to look too far ahead," he insisted. "People talk about the Ashes tour at the end of the year but I'm not even thinking about that in all honesty.

"I'd say that was a more realistic target for someone like Tim Bresnan than for me and I just want to focus on performing well for Yorkshire day-in, day-out.

"Of course, I could say 'Oh yes, I'd love to be in the Ashes squad' and that sort of thing, but I don't want to start saying that and then be upset if I'm not selected."

With Yorkshire likely to see precious little of Bresnan this summer due to Test and one-day commitments, Shahzad could end up leading the attack.

In common with leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who should also be available for most of the summer, Shahzad will require no extra incentive to do well now he has burst on to England's radar.

"I'm looking forward to leading the attack if Yorkshire want me to do that and taking the new-ball if that opportunity is there," said Shahzad, who showed he can also wield a bat with 451 Championship runs last summer at 37.58. "It would be a massive responsibility but one I would relish.

"At the end of the day, I've only played a handful of first-class games so I'm still learning at county level – let alone in international terms.

"But I want to be a guy that the captain can turn to and say, 'Come on, get me a wicket' and I also want to build up my pace this year and start pushing the 90mph barrier, getting up there with the likes of Saj Mahmood at Lancashire."

Although bookmakers have tipped Yorkshire for a troublesome season, Shahzad has an optimistic view of the county's chances.

"We know it's going to be a tough year and that there'll be a lot of hard graft involved, but I'd like to think we can surprise a few people this season," he added. "The last few years we've been fighting a battle to stay up in the Championship First Division but if we all work hard and if the youngsters come through, I think we have the potential to possibly get ourselves in the top-three in most competitions.

"The biggest thing, of course, is to do well in the Championship and, hopefully, we can challenge the likes of Durham and Notts and start to impress in the four-day tournament.

"No-one is kidding themselves that it's going to be easy, but I can promise people that the youngsters at Yorkshire have a lot of pride and enthusiasm and hopefully that will shine through in the cricket we play."