KEY POINTS
- Pakistan Test seamer signs two-year deal with Derbyshire.
- Reunites with mentor Mickey Arthur for a Division One promotion bid.
- Brings championship-winning county experience to bolster the attack.
DERBYSHIRE: Derbyshire have announced the signing of Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas as an overseas player on a two-year contract covering the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Reunion with Mentor Mickey Arthur
The move sees Abbas reunite with Derbyshire’s head of cricket, Mickey Arthur, the man who awarded him his Test debut for Pakistan in 2017. Arthur hailed the signing as a major coup for the club, stating they beat several Division One counties to secure the services of the seasoned seamer.
“This is a statement signing for us,” Arthur declared. “We’ve beaten a number of Division One counties to sign one of the finest red-ball bowlers around… his experience is going to be massive for our young players to learn from.”
Champion Experience and Promotion Ambition
Abbas, renowned for his exceptional control and wicket-taking ability, brings a wealth of red-ball county cricket experience from successful stints with Leicestershire, Hampshire, and Nottinghamshire, the latter where he helped secure the Championship title in 2025.
Abbas expressed his desire to drive the club forward. “Hearing [Mickey Arthur’s] plans for Derbyshire, we share the same ambitions for the Club: to be in Division One,” said Abbas. “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.”
The signing is seen as a direct move to bolster Derbyshire’s attack for a sustained promotion push over the next two seasons.
