BIOGRAPIES OF THE CRICKET ESPAÑA SQUAD HEADING TO FINLAND
Age: 28
Role: Batting all-rounder – Captain, right-hand bat, right-arm off-break
Club: Sporting Alfas CC
- Born in Spain to a Spanish father and English mother
- Captained Spain in their T20Is against Malta
- Qualified by Murcia University as a physiotherapist
Age: 27
Role: Batting all-rounder – Right-hand bat, right-arm off-break
Club: Catalunya CC
- Born in Pakistan, came to Spain in 2011 as a 20-year-old
- Played in recently concluded European Cricket League for Catalunya CC
- Top score of 45 in the semi-final against eventual winners V.O.C Rotterdam
- Scored 96 runs @ 24 from four matches
- Previously played in the Dutch Topklasse with Punjab Rotterdam
- Hit a T20I series 50, making 57 from 40 balls against Malta earlier this year
- Works in a shop for a mobile phone/internet/telecoms company
- Played for Sialkot at U19s back in Pakistan
Age: 45
Role: Bowler –
Club: Sporting Alfas CC
- Born in Lahore in 1974
- Visited Spain in 2000, fell in love with the country and pursued work opportunities
- Now holds a Spanish passport
- Previously played professional cricket in Malaysia with the Malaysian Armed Forces
- Took 3-11 against Malta in Spain’s second match in March of this
- Lives near Alfas and works for a Norwegian based rheumatic centre
Age: 32
Role: Bowler – left-arm medium-fast, right-hand bat
Club: Unattached
- Arrived in Spain in 2010 to join his brother and cousins who have also played for the Spain national team
- Only player based in the province of Almeria
- Works in the family restaurant in Almeria
Age: 28
Role: Batting all-rounder – right-hand bat, right-arm medium
Club: Pinatar Pirates
- Born in Middlesex, England; Paul played for Middlesex U13-16s
- Had an opening partnership of 155 with Awais Ahmed in T20Is
- Their 155-run stand against Malta ranks the 8th highest in the world
- Is the highest by an Associate Nation
- Hennessy hit 71 from 44 balls (7x4s, 4x6s @ S/R of 161.36
- Twenty20 Internationals | Partnership records | Highest partnership for the first wicket
- Owns a painter and decorator business
Age: 23
Role: Bowler – right-arm off-break
Club: Gracia CC
- Born in India
- Played in the Essex League in the UK previously
- Kept wicket in the second T20I against Malta in March
- Works as a hairdresser
- Currently ranked the top fielder in Liga Catalunya
Age: 28
Role:
Club: Friends CC
- Born in Pakistan, came to Spain in 2010 to join his father
- Set Spain’s record opening partnership with Paul Hennessy in T20Is
- Their 155-run stand against Malta ranks the 8th highest in the world
- Is the highest by an Associate Nation
- Ahmed hit 102* from 64 balls (5x4s, 6x6s @ S/R of 159.37
- Twenty20 Internationals | Partnership records | Highest partnership for the first wicket
- Most recent T20I in world cricket, it was Spain’s first T20I century since the inuaguration of the new T20I series format in 2019.
- Became the 41st man to score a T20I hundred
Age: 25
Role: Bowler – right-hand bat, right-arm medium-fast
Club: Pinatar Pirates
- Played for Club Conference XI in both Tanzania and Jersey
- Has come through the Spanish junior ranks and played at both U17/U19 level
- Played alongside Tom Vine at both junior levels
- Previously worked for his father’s Indian restaurant
Age: 26
Role: Bowler – right-hand bat, right-arm medium-fast
Club: Pinatar Pirates
- Born in Hullbridge, Essex
- Has come through the Spanish junior ranks and played at both U17/U19 level
- Played alongside Ravi Panchal at both junior levels
- Took 4-28 in Spain’s first ever T20I against Malta
- Best figures in full T20I cricket for Spain since the new format started in 2019
- Runs an outdoor furniture business with four stores across the Spanish east coast
Age: 30
Role: All-rounder
Club: Friends XI CC
- Born in Gujarat, Pakistan
- Moved to Spain to join his father who was already living in the country
- Has been a taxi driver for the last 10 years
- Made his debut in 2016 against Sweden
Age: 24
Role: Batting all-rounder – left-hand bat, right-arm medium
Club: Badalona Shaheen
- Brother Mustafa has played for Spanish A side
- Mustafa was also initially down to be in this squad but misses out due to paperwork issues
- First ever overseas tour for Hamza
- Played for Pakistan in their recent Asia Cup victory that was played in Cataluyna.
Age: 26
Role: Batsman
Club: Gracia CC
- From the Punjab region of India, moved to Spain in 2011
- Now lives in Girona with his family and works in a meat factory
- Came through the junior ranks of Cricket España
- Vinod was in the squad that played in the ICC Europe Division 2 competition in Holland
- Played against Estonia in the T20I series but missed out on the full T20Is against Malta
- Is famous for appearing in a Herbalife ad, playing cricket with Lionel Messi…
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMYj8uRM-_E
Age: 30
Role: Batsman – right-hand bat
Club: Friends XI CC
- Currently ranked number two in this years Catalunya League for most runs scored, behind teammate Zulqarnain Haider
- http://www.criccatala.com/CricketCatala/battingRecords.do?league=1&clubId=9868
David Gelling
Role: Coach
- Former member of the British Armed Forces
- Previously worked as a coach at Hampshire County Cricket Club
- Also coached Gibraltar
- Works as Lead Tutor with ICC & ECB
- Replaces Pete Williams for first assignment as Spain coach but has had an association with Cricket España for more than 10 years
Age: 24
Role: Team Manager
Club: Sporting Alfas
- Appointed Team Manager on a temporary basis earlier this year
- A former Spain international
- Also came through the Cricket España youth ranks and played for Spain U17s
Credit to Barny Read
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