Islamabad, March 13, 2025: Derbyshire Falcons have secured Afghanistan’s rising spin talent, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, for the upcoming T20 Blast season.
The 18-year-old, who made his Test debut last year, gained recognition for his outstanding performances in limited-overs cricket, earning a place in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year for 2024.
Ghazanfar’s white-ball form has been particularly impressive, with 21 wickets at an average of 13.57 in the past year. His standout performance came against Bangladesh in November, where he claimed 6-26.
Derbyshire’s head of cricket, Mickey Arthur, described the signing as a significant move, stating that the young spinner has the potential to become a major force in international cricket.
Meanwhile, Northamptonshire has retained India’s experienced leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, for another stint. The 34-year-old will be available for the County Championship and One-Day Cup from June 22 until the end of September.
Having played 72 ODIs and 80 T20s for India, Chahal proved highly effective for Northamptonshire last season, securing 19 wickets at an average of 21.
His contributions included a career-best 9-99 against Derbyshire, followed by another nine-wicket haul against Leicestershire, which helped push Northamptonshire up to fourth place.
Chahal expressed his excitement about returning, citing the positive dressing room atmosphere as a key factor in his decision.
Head coach Darren Lehmann welcomed Chahal’s return, calling him one of the best leg-spinners in the world.
The signing follows the recent addition of Australian left-arm bowler Liam Guthrie, who joined the club on a three-year deal.
With Ghazanfar and Chahal reinforcing their spin departments, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire aim to make a strong impact in the upcoming domestic season.
