Shropshire cricket squad for opening friendly unveiled

The first clues were today offered to Shropshire's one-day cricket line-up for 2012.

A 12-man squad for Sunday's friendly with Staffordshire at Shifnal has been unveiled with new professional Bilal Shafayat set to make his debut.

Steve Leach has also been pencilled in for his maiden one-day appearance for Shropshire and is likely to open the batting with captain Ed Foster.

All-rounder Joe Leach misses out as he is playing for Leeds-Bradford University against Yorkshire at Headingley, while Richard Oliver and Jono Whitney are still out of the country after trips abroad this winter.

The game, which will see both sides able to use 12 players, will be a crucial warm-up for Shropshire, who begin their MCCA Trophy campaign against Norfolk at Shrewsbury the following Sunday.

Squad: Ed Foster (captain, Shrewsbury), Mike Barnard, Alex Blofield, Dan Bowen, Tom Cox (all Shrewsbury), Mark Downes (Newport), Jack Edwards (Shifnal), Rob Foster, Stephen Leach (both Shrewsbury), Anthony Parker (Shifnal), James Ralph (Bridgnorth), Bilal Shafayat (West Indies Cavaliers).

n Wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Bishop will return to Birmingham League Premier Division hopefuls Shrewsbury as their over overseas player for 2012.

Bishop has spent three seasons at London Road as an English qualified player while he was studying at Cardiff University.

But, having returned to his native South Africa over the winter, he must now return as an overseas player to replace Australian Paul Donaldson.