Shafayat the young Asian lion leading England towards brighter horizons

Tapping into the deep well of cricketing talent that undoubtedly exists within Britain's Asian communities has been a challenge that continues to engage and perplex English coaches. The county circuit embraces a number of players with Indian or Pakistani roots who have represented the England side but the suspicion persists that the quest to unearth a Tendulkar in Toxteth or a Mushtaq in Manningham is only scratching the surface.

Cultural barriers still exist, often on the Asian side. In some cases, young cricketers are discouraged by families who do not see the game as a worthwhile career; others dip their toes in the water but are put off by the environment in which cricket is played, not necessarily because of racism but simple differences in lifestyle.

Removing these blocks is a slow process. But in some places there are encouraging signs. Nottinghamshire, for example, are doubly represented in the England Under-19 party who yesterday won the first Test of a three "Test", five one-day international tour of Australia. Both players, Samit Patel and Bilal Shafayat, are English Asians.

Shafayat, who captains the side, is the one generating the most excitement and deservedly so as his 6 for 54 to give England a 14-run victory on a thrilling final day in Adelaide proved. He also scored 108 in England's first innings and 66 in the second.

The county regard the 18-year-old right-handed batsman, the first professional graduate of their academy, as one of the the brightest prospects to emerge at Trent Bridge in years.

The youngest player to represent the county at senior level, aged 16 years and 51 weeks in July 2001, Shafayat made 72 in his debut innings and has achieved more notable milestones since. Last summer he became the first England player to score a century and a double century in an Under-19 "Test", against India at Northampton, and the youngest to make a first-class 100 for Nottinghamshire, his century against Worcestershire in September influential in clinching promotion to the First Division of the County Championship.

"He is an exceptional, natural talent," the Nottinghamshire manager, Mick Newell, said, having watched Shafayat's progress since first seeing him in the nets at Under-12 level. "He lives for batting and having seen him settle so quickly into county cricket I would name him as one of five or six players we plan to build our team around. He has everything in place as a cricketer to go all the way."

Part of his gift, Newell believes, stems from his religion and his background, an assessment that a conversation with Shafayat seems to confirm. Unequivocal in his ambition – "I want to be the best player in the world and I will never be satisfied until I achieve that" – he is at the same time respectful of his ordinary roots, deeply appreciative of his family's support and wholly committed to his Muslim faith.

"At the end of the day we are here for our religion," he says. "I look upon cricket as the second thing in my life, after my religion. Perhaps that makes me a little more relaxed about the game and a bit more able to handle the pressures.

"In a way, cricket is a hobby for me. I cannot let it interfere with my religion. Islam for me is a complete way of life, not just a set of rules. It teaches you in detail how to deal with everything."

Not that he was ever discouraged from his passion for cricket. His father, Mohammad, though never a player, is an enthusiastic fan. He sent his two sons – Bilal has an older brother, Rashid, who also has ambitions to play professionally – to join a community cricket scheme set up by the local council near their home in the modest Sneinton district of Nottingham. "I think he just wanted to keep us off the streets – but we were really good at it," Shafayat recalled.

From there he was taken under the wing of Andrew Jackman, who coaches with the Nottinghamshire Premier League club West Indian Cavaliers. Jackman encouraged him to fulfil his potential, teaching him to keep wicket and bowl medium pace as well as bat.

"I'm grateful to Andrew as well as to Mick Newell and Clive Rice, who gave me my chance when he was manager. Andrew has probably been my biggest influence."

He sees any success he might achieve as reward for their efforts, as well as his own, and for the support of his family. "My father has not worked for a long time, after an operation on his back, and we did struggle a bit as I was growing up," he said. "Now, with God's help, I can pay him back."

Newell believes Shafayat will encourage more talented Asians to venture to Trent Bridge, just as the England batsman Usman Afzaal did before him. "Usman showed that there is a living to be made from the game," Newell said. "It has helped our relationship with the Asian community. As well as Usman, Bilal and Samit we also have Nadeem Malik and Vikram Atri, who are both making good progress."

Shafayat's concerns first are to lead England on a successful tour. As reserve wicketkeeper as well as principle batsman, it is no wonder he names Alec Stewart as one of the players he most admires (along with Nasser Hussain and Sachin Tendulkar), although he gives Jackman most credit for his captaincy skills.

"When I was wicketkeeper for Cavaliers, Andrew was alongside me at slip and I learned a lot of the tactical side from him," he said. "I captained quite a lot at club level and to lead the England side is both a privilege and a challenge." A challenge, indeed, given that Australia's Under-19s, like their senior counterparts, are world champions. Not that Shafayat sees his team going the same, sad way as Hussain's.

"We have a very good squad and we will be going with a very positive attitude. There is no reason why we should not believe we can beat Australia, and I think we will."