Fawad Ahmed is hopeful the Test debut that has eluded him since being granted Australian citizenship is just around the corner.

But the legspinner says making a contribution to Victoria in the Sheffield Shield must remain his primary focus.

Ahmed, who turns 33 in February, is intent on winning a spot on the upcoming Test tours to the West Indies and England.

With 18 wickets for the Bushrangers in the first half of the Shield season, Ahmed is building his case for a Test debut in 2015, but he’s been close before and learnt a harsh lesson.

After taking six wickets against Western Australia in the first match of the 2013/14 Shield season, Ahmed was a chance to unseat offspinner Nathan Lyon for the first Test of the Ashes series in Brisbane with another good performance, but failed to grasp his opportunity.

“I felt a lot of pressure because people were telling me I was a chance to play the first Test if I bowled well against New South Wales,” Ahmed says.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself and I didn’t perform well as a result, so after that I tried to forget about playing for Australia and concentrate on playing for Victoria.

“My national ambitions are always there, but I’m trying not to think too far ahead.

“I can’t control selection, but if I’m performing well for Victoria then I think an opportunity will definitely come.”

Ahmed’s task in earning a Test debut has been made harder by Lyon’s recent strong form against India, but he’s hopeful national selectors keep an open mind on the make-up of the side on spin-friendly wickets.

“Nathan definitely deserves to be in the team right now,” he says.

“He’s been bowling really well, but you never know, perhaps the selectors might consider playing two spinners at stages in the future.”