Derbyshire signs Shoaib Bashir for County Championship Division Two 2026 season

Published - 15 Jan 2026, 15:50 IST | Updated - 15 Jan 2026, 16:20 IST

Derbyshire have secured the services of England spinner Shoaib Bashir for the 2026 County Championship Division Two season. The 22-year-old, who has been a regular member of England’s Test setup over the past two years, joins the club for a fresh start following an inconsistent county career with Somerset.

Despite his performances in international cricket, Bashir has struggled to establish himself as a first-choice option at Somerset. With Jack Leach being the lead spinner and Archie Vaughan seen as an alternative, Bashir has had limited opportunities. In the recent Ashes tour of Australia, he remained an unused squad member as England opted for allrounder Will Jacks in four of the five Tests.

Notably, Bashir made his England Test debut in India in February 2024 and has since taken 68 wickets in just 19 Tests, including four five-wicket hauls. His best figures of 6 for 81 came against Zimbabwe last summer, and he also claimed the decisive wicket in England’s memorable 22-run victory over India at Lord’s, bowling Mohammad Siraj despite playing with a broken hand. However, his domestic numbers have not underwhelming.

England weigh Bashir or Jacks as spin option for Gabba Test

Across formats, Bashir exits Somerset with 21 wickets in 23 matches, including 14 wickets at an average of 74.78 in 10 County Championship appearances. Loan spells at Worcestershire and Glamorgan failed to help him make a comeback, with his stint at Glamorgan bringing just two wickets at an average of 152 in April 2025.

Derbyshire, under the leadership of head coach Mickey Arthur, has positioned themselves as the ideal platform for Bashir’s comeback. Arthur, a former South Africa and Pakistan coach, played a crucial role in securing the deal, with the club seeking a replacement after the departure of Alex Thomson. Bashir will join a young spin group that includes Jack Morley and Joe Hawkins.

"Derbyshire have a really exciting project going on and working with Mickey Arthur, one of the best coaches in the world, is a great opportunity for any young player. I'm keen to play more red-ball cricket, continue my development in the white-ball formats, and challenge for promotion with Derbyshire. "This is an exciting move for me and I can't wait to meet the group," Bashir said in a statement.