Derbyshire are reportedly set to complete the signing of England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, with the 22-year-old expected to finalise a two-year deal in the coming days following his release by Somerset last month.
Bashir, who is with England for the Ashes but has not featured in the first three Tests, has been without a county home since November 1. He has struggled for county game time even while England's No.1 spinner, going out on loan in search of first-team action during 2025.
According to the Daily Mail, Bashir has agreed terms with Derbyshire, in Division Two of the County Championship. The move would bring to an end the awkward state of affairs in which purportedly England's first-choice spinner is without a home at any of the 18 first-class counties, despite the ECB paying his wages as a centrally contracted player.
Shoaib Bashir’s journey in county cricket
Bashir made his red-ball debut for Somerset in 2023, but opportunities remained limited at Somerset due to the presence of Jack Leach. He has played 10 matches for the club in the longer format, picking up 14 wickets, with his last appearance for the club coming in 2024. Last year, he joined Worcestershire on a short-term loan, where he played five Blast games along with a Championship game against Surrey. Bashir picked up two wickets in the game.
Earlier this year, he joined Glamorgan on another loan deal, playing three county games and filling in for Mason Crane, who was out injured. Bashir picked up two wickets in five innings.
Overall, the 22-year-old averages 84 in the County Championship, picking up 18 wickets. He has also played 19 Tests since making his debut against India in 2024, picking up 68 wickets at 39.
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