Hampton School cricketer Zafar Ansari has been earmarked to make a Surrey first team debut this summer after putting pen to paper on a full emerging player contract with the Brit Oval club.
The 18-year-old left handed batsman and spin bowler, who plays club cricket for Surrey Championship Premier League side Weybridge, has already represented the Lions at every age group as well as gaining England U15 and U17 honours.
Ansari played a part in the Surrey’s second eleven championship triumph last summer and will turn full-time - along with Banstead’s Tom Lancefield, Sutton’s Muhunthan Harinath and Weybridge team-mate Seren Waters - following the completion of his A-levels in June.
And Surrey cricket managing director Gus Mackay is hoping all four players - who will now train regularly with the first team squad - will continue their progress into the first class game.
“At the start of 2009 there was a distinct policy decision made to play the club’s young players in the second XI wherever possible and it has paid off with a magnificent Championship victory, where seven of the twelve players were Surrey U19s,” he said.
“While academic commitments prevented Zafar playing a full part in this, his potential and attitude is such that – alongside his membership of the Pemberton Greenish Academy – we have awarded him a full EPC contract for 2010.
“I look forward to watching him continue his development and work towards making a full first team debut.”
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