LANCASHIRE'S Sajid Mahmood, who began his cricket career with Bolton League side Astley Bridge, has been called up for England 'A's forthcoming winter tour.

The 22-year-old medium pace bowler is named in a 15-man squad for the tour of Malaysia and India.

This latest honour is a reward for the remarkable progress Sajid has made since joining Lancashire in 2002.

Since then he has established himself in the county first team squad and was one of the 14 players originally selected in September for the ECB National Academy's programme. Sajid has come a long way since his early days at Astley Bridge in the Bolton League.

Before joining Lancashire, he played one season with Egerton, but Astley Bridge is still his 'home' club and he lives near their ground.

Sajid's call-up was welcomed by Bolton League president Peter Stafford, who said: "It is a great credit to the Bolton League and to Astley Bridge in particular, who have nurtured his career from an early age."

The tour schedule will see England A play three one-day matches against India A as well as participating in India's first-class competition, the Duleep Trophy.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for England A and we are very grateful to the BCCI for allowing the team to compete in India's main domestic competition."

Full squad: Kadeer Ali (Worcestershire), Simon Francis (Somerset), Alex Gidman (capt) (Gloucestershire), Simon Jones (Glamorgan), Shaftab Khalid (Worcestershire), Michael Lumb (Yorkshire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Graham Napier (Essex), Scott Newman (Surrey), Kevin Pietersen (Nottinghamshire), Matthew Prior (Sussex), Bilal Shafayat (Nottinghamshire), Ed Smith (Kent), James Tredwell (Kent), Graham Wagg (Warwickshire).

A full tour itinerary can be found on the official Lancashire Cricket Club website which has also provided a profile of Mahmood for us.

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