Cricket / Gloucestershire Cricket
Gloucestershire Cricket offers contract extension to ‘multi-skilled’ paceman
Gloucestershire Cricket have announced a one-year contract extension for Zaman Akhter which will run through to the end of 2025 season.
This could not have come at a better time for Akhter who, alongside fellow Gloucestershire paceman Ajeet Singh Dale, completed a successful fixture with the England Lions against Sri Lanka.
Akhter ripped through the Sri Lankan batting line up with impressive figures of 5-17 off 12 overs in the first innings at New Road. Among his wickets included the prized scalps of Dimuth Karanuratne and Kusal Mendis who have 16 and 9 Test centuries to their names respectively.
is needed now More than ever
Akhter, a graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA), has been a crucial member of the Gloucestershire Cricket team since he joined in 2023.
The 25-year-old secured top figures (for red ball) early this season against Yorkshire in the Vitality County Championship when he took 5/89 in Bristol.
Also a handy operator with the bat, he hit a career best of 70 off 83 balls against the same opposition in Scarborough.
On his contract extension, Akhter said: “I’m really excited to be staying at Gloucestershire for another season, we’ve made great strides as a team so far this year and I’m looking forward to building on all that good work for the rest of this season and into next.”
Akhter, who made his professional debut for Gloucestershire in May 2023, has gone on to make 13 first-class and nine white-ball appearances for Glos so far.
“Zaman will be integral to the team as he looks to extend this contribution across all formats,” said coach Mark Alleyne – photo: Gloucestershire Cricket
Gloucestershire coach Mark Alleyne is delighted at the prospect of having Akhter for another season at Nevil Road.
He said: “It’s excellent news that Zaman has extended his stay at Gloucestershire. He arrived with good potential and has excelled ever since with some important spells in Championship cricket.
“Zaman will be integral to the team as he looks to extend this contribution across all formats. He is truly a multi-skilled cricketer with exciting pace, a great athlete in the field and also an emerging batter with good ability.”
All photos: Gloucestershire Cricket
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
