Ajmal Shahzad joined Nottinghamshire last October hoping to win trophies and on Saturday he managed just that.
The all-rounder left home county Yorkshire at the end of last season to link up with Notts and shone in the Yorkshire Bank 40 showpiece against Glamorgan, taking three wickets in the 87-run victory.
The Outlaws side included nine internationals, including Ashes winning duo Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, and ran out comfortable winners.
And England international Shahzad praised Notts for performing when it mattered most.
He told ecb.co.uk: “This is why I came to the club, hoping to win some trophies. We’ve gone out first year and gone and done it.
“On paper we have nine international players (and) a couple of lads who haven’t played internationals but are good enough. We’re a quality one day side, but you’ve got to go out on the pitch and deliver.
“We’ve had our ups and downs in the championship and the t20; they haven’t gone the way we’d hoped. But to keep grafting on, to keep battling on and to win the trophy, especially at a Lord’s final – even Broady and Swanny said they’ve not been involved in a Lord’s final; it’s just a great feeling for the whole team.”
Shahzad accounted for Gareth Rees, Ben Wright and Andrew Salter as he returned figures of 3-33 in six overs, which saw him pass 100 career List A wickets.
It was a sweet return for the 28-year-old who had originally been told he would not be selected in the Notts side, until an injury struck down Jake Ball.
“A couple of days ago I wasn’t even in the playing XI and it hurt me,” admitted Shahzad. “Unfortunately Bally got injured and I got the nod so to take three wickets in the final when I didn’t expect to be playing was a massive boost for myself.
“I feel proud of myself, I think my family will be proud of me and I think everybody in the backroom will be proud of me.
“I’d have loved to have kept bowling and tried to take a five-for! I looked at Ready when he said I was coming off and I was like ‘this is my chance to take a five-for in a Lord’s final’, but all the lads bowled superbly.”
Notts’ victory was enjoyed by a large contingent of travelling fans from the midlands. Shahzad paid tribute to the supporters and thanked them for helping him settle in at the club so easily.
He said: “They’ve been following us all year, especially at Trent Bridge. It’s fantastic to have them on board.
“I’ve obviously come from Yorkshire, where the fans have always got your back, and just to come here and for them to accept me as one of their own and embrace me and to see the support coming all the way down from Nottingham has been fantastic.”
View the Original article