After some delays due to logistics, Prithvi Shaw is finally prepared for his first county tenure. The Mumbai opener was able to arrive in the United Kingdom on time despite evident difficulties with travel documents. His county career will begin on August 4 with a one-day cup match.
“I am delighted to say Prithvi arrived in the UK today (Sunday) and will feature in our one-day cup starting Friday, August 4. Official announcement (will come) tomorrow (Monday),” Ray Payne, the Chief Executive of Northamptonshire County Cricket Club (NCCC), told CricAdvisor.
Shaw received permission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to forego the current Deodhar Trophy inter-zonal one-day championship in Puducherry. However, his repeated absence from NCCC contests caused confusion regarding his assignment.
At one point, his participation was uncertain, as the NCCC maintained that they had made no official announcement regarding Shaw joining the organization. However, now that the CEO of the NCCC has confirmed his arrival, he is ready to begin his county assignment.
The One-Day Cup, a 50-over competition in the England and Wales Cricket Board’s domestic schedule, begins on Tuesday, but the Northamptonshire Steelbacks are not scheduled to face Gloucestershire until Friday at Cheltenham College, Cheltenham.
Shaw will play alongside David Willey and Andrew Tye for the Steelbacks. John Sadler is the chief coach for the county.
Shaw (23) scored a century in his international début against West Indies when he was 18 years old. Since then, however, he has lost his path and played only four more Tests and seven white ball games (six ODIs and one T20I) for India.
After Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Arshdeep Singh, and Navdeep Saini, Shaw will become the fourth Indian to join with a county this season. Rahane had inked a contract with Leicestershire, but he decided to take a sabbatical.
