Liam Dawson factfile: What links Shahid Afridi and Kevin Pietersen to uncapped spinner?

Liam Dawson says he's excited but nervous about being selected for England's T20 World Cup squad

Liam Dawson is the surprise inclusion in England's World Twenty20 squad - not least because coach Trevor Bayliss has yet to see him play a game.

So who is the uncapped Hampshire all-rounder? Here's what you need to know…

Age: 25
Born: Swindon, Wiltshire
Twitter: @daws128
Nickname: Daws
Loves: Darts & Southampton FC

Image: Pakistan's Shahid Afridi celebrates in his unique style against England in their recent T20I series

He shares his birthday - March 1 - with Shahid Afridi…
…but will he bring the 'Boom Boom' factor to England's World T20 campaign? Dawson's highest score in T20 cricket is 45no and he has hit just seven sixes in 73 games but describes himself as a genuine all-rounder and considers batting his stronger suit.

Twenty20 batting record
Matches: 73
Runs: 495
Best score: 45no
Average: 15
Strike rate: 104.65

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Image: Kevin Pietersen's struggles against left-arm spin included losing his wicket to Liam Dawson

Why does Kevin Pietersen spring to mind…?
Well remembered - back in August 2012, Pietersen was dismissed first ball by Dawson on his return to competitive cricket after being dropped from the England Test team. Earlier in the season Dawson removed the Surrey batsman for a golden duck in T20 cricket.

Twenty20 Bowling Record
Matches: 73
Wickets: 39
Best figures: 4-19
Average: 29.87
Economy rate: 7.48

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Image: Liam Dawson had a spell on loan at Essex in 2015

Hang on, though. Didn't he feature in only four NatWest T20 Blast games last season?
Yes - and he played two of those games for Essex after moving there on loan for a month having failed to nail down a spot in Hampshire's four-day team. As it turned out he spent only 12 days at Chelmsford before being recalled and from that point on he's been back on the rise.

So why has he been picked now?
James Whitaker points to Dawson's "consistently strong performances for the Lions against Pakistan A" - he ended up as the leading wicket-taker in the 50-over series in the UAE - and believes the spinner could have a similar impact on the sub-continent.

Image: Liam Dawson (right), pictured bowling for England against India during the 2008 U19 World Cup

He does have some international pedigree, doesn't he?
Sure - a former England Under-19 captain - Dawson's slow left-arm ripped through Malaysia's line-up in 2007, earning figures of 6-9. The following season he scored his maiden first-class century, against Nottinghamshire, becoming the youngest player to score a hundred for the county in the process.

Watch the ICC World Twenty20 live on Sky Sports from March 8.

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