HIGH Wycombe cricket prodigy Saif Zaib is to be given his first taste of international competition after being called up to the England Schools squad - while his cousin and team mate is also in line for county honours.

Zaib has been rewarded for his excellent form this season by being selected for the England U17 team that will face their Pakistan counterparts at Loughborough on Tuesday, August 12.

The 16-year-old has also been chosen to play for the England Schools side against the MCC at Lord's on Thursday, September 4.

His selection was made after he was recommended for a place in the side by the England Development Programme coaching team.

In a busy season, the Royal Grammar School pupil spent last week making his limited overs debut for Northamptonshire against a touring New Zealand A team and representing the Midlands U17 side.

In one of his innings for the Midlands team he hit 56 runs, and used his spin to claim five wickets in three matches.

He became the youngest player in Northants' history to play a limited overs game for the Steelbacks, although the three overs he bowled were despatched for 30 runs as the Kiwis smashed 424-7 off 50 overs.

Meanwhile his cousin Uzair Amjaid has been selected for the Bucks Academy U25 team - even though he's still only 15 years old.

Also a pupil at the RGS, he's progressed through to the High Wycombe first team with Zaib this season and been working alongside former England spinner Ian Salisbury, who's now a coach in the youth international setup.

This season the leg spinner has played for the county at U15, U16 and U17 level and this week took his maiden five wicket haul for Bucks, finishing with 5-28 against Northants on Tuesday.