Pace bowler Zaman Akhter signs contract extension at Gloucestershire
13 November 2023
Fast bowler Zaman Akhter has signed a one-year contract extension at Gloucestershire Cricket for the 2024 season.
The 24-year-old seamer experienced a breakout year at the Seat Unique Stadium last season having signed for the Club in March ahead of the 2023 campaign. Having initially been identified as a talent by the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) and invited for trials at Glos, Zaman went on to make his professional debut for Gloucestershire vs Durham in the County Championship in May 2023.
Since then Zaman has gone on to make seven First-Class appearances for Gloucestershire and has featured in four List A matches and three T20 matches. In the Championship, Zaman claimed 19 wickets with his best bowling innings of 4/33 coming at Grace Road against Leicestershire in September. It was in that match that he also scored 41*, his highest batting total across any format to date.
In white ball cricket Zaman has taken nine wickets, including 3/56 vs Derbyshire at Cheltenham in a match that saw Shire kick start their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign.
Speaking about his new deal at Glos, Zaman said: “I’m really excited to sign an extension with the Club. My first year gave me a proper taste of professional cricket and I loved every minute.
“I’ve got some things I want to work on over the winter for next season which will hopefully help to bring about success for the team on the field.”
Dale Benkenstein, Head Coach at Gloucestershire Cricket, added: “Zaman was an important player for us last season and gave us a much-needed extra pace option across all formats. It’s been great to see Zaman develop as the season progressed and I’ve no doubt in his ability to continue to improve as we move into the 2024 season and beyond.”
