Shoaib Bashir steps down to second tier with Derbyshire deal

He had short-term loan spells with Glamorgan and Worcestershire but his permanent move to Derbyshire in Division Two was announced on Thursday morning.

“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,” Bashir said.

“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 has taken 68 wickets in 19 Tests at an average of 39 since making his debut in India in early 2024, while he became the youngest England bowler to reach 50 dismissals in May last year. He has not featured for England since breaking a finger on his non-bowling hand against India at Lord’s in July.

However, the young spinner remains in the national set-up’s plans. Rob Key, England’s director of cricket, is understood to have told Bashir that there will be opportunities for him to get quality game time, whether it be in county cricket or with the England Lions.

Bashir is currently in Zimbabwe after the ECB flew him out there for a week of specialist coaching with Mushtaq Ahmed. The former Pakistan wrist-spinner is working as a specialist spin bowling consultant for the ECB and is currently with the England team who are in Zimbabwe for the Under-19 World Cup. Bashir travelled to Harare on Wednesday for some one-on-one coaching with Ahmed scheduled around England Under-19 matches, the first of which is against Pakistan on Friday.

The move signals England’s ongoing commitment to the young spinner despite his struggles in Australia. However, that might change if the review of the Ashes being led by Richard Gould, chief executive of the ECB, and Richard Thompson, chair of the governing body, concludes and there is a change of personnel in the England management or selection group.

The review will look at a number of things that might need to be implemented and the future of both Key and head coach Brendon McCullum will depend on how England perform at the forthcoming T20 World Cup and whether they are willing to accept the changes that the ECB put forward.

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