Derbyshire County Cricket Club have made a statement in the 2026 recruitment market by signing Pakistan’s experienced seam bowler Mohammad Abbas on a two-year deal.

The 35-year-old pace bowler, who helped Nottinghamshire secure the County Championship title in 2025, has been persuaded to step down a division to join Derbyshire in Division Two, under the guidance of his former international coach, Mickey Arthur, now Derbyshire’s Head of Cricket.

Abbas is determined to make an immediate impact, aiming for promotion in his first season. “It’s exciting for me to join Derbyshire and work with Mickey Arthur again,” Abbas said. “He’s a fantastic coach and hearing his plans for Derbyshire we share the same ambitions for the club—to be in Division One. The team only just missed out on promotion in 2025 so I’m hoping I can come in and perform to win a few more games and give our supporters a trophy to celebrate.”

Career Highlights and Experience

Abbas is one of the most accomplished seamers in modern cricket, having taken 845 first-class wickets across stints with Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Hampshire. On the international stage, he has claimed 100 Test wickets, including a career-best 6-54 against South Africa in 2024, and is renowned for his ability to exploit English conditions with swing and seam.

Arthur, who gave Abbas his Test debut in 2017, emphasized the significance of the signing:
“This is a statement signing for us. We’ve beaten a number of Division One counties to sign one of the finest red-ball bowlers around and we’re absolutely delighted to have Mohammad on board for 2026 and 2027. He’s an exceptional bowler. He bowls maidens, he builds pressure, and his wickets come at a really impressive average. However, it’s not just his ability which will be huge for us, his experience is going to be massive for our young players to learn from.”

Impact on Derbyshire

Derbyshire narrowly missed promotion in 2025, finishing just outside the top spots in Division Two. The arrival of Abbas is expected to provide a major boost to their County Championship 2026 campaign, offering both skill and mentorship for emerging bowlers in the squad. With Abbas leading the attack alongside a core of young domestic talents, Derbyshire are optimistic about their promotion aspirations and the chance to challenge for silverware.

Abbas’ signing also reflects Derbyshire’s ambition to attract top international talent, raising the profile of the club in English domestic cricket. Fans and analysts alike are keen to see how his experience and precision with the ball translate in Division Two cricket, and whether Derbyshire can achieve promotion at the first attempt.