Derbyshire sign Sharif for T20 Blast and One-Day Cup

(Photo: Getty Images)

By Adam Ellis

Derbyshire continue to stock up on bowlers for the T20 Blast with Safyaan Sharif the latest recruit to sign for the Falcons.

The Scotland international will join the ranks alongside Wahab Riaz for the Twenty20 showpiece and has also signed up for the One-Day.

“With a busy few months of white ball cricket coming up, we wanted to strengthen and provide more depth to our fast bowling department,” cricket advisor Kim Barnett told the club’s website.

“We’ve been monitoring Sharif for a while. He is a talented quick bowler and he showed this winter with Scotland that he has the ability to take wickets and perform to a high standard.

“Working in partnership with Cricket Scotland, Sharif will join us for our white-ball competitions providing additional strength to our attack, while also giving him exposure to county cricket.”

The 26-year-old starred in the Scot’s ICC World Cup Qualifier campaign earlier this year, taking 15 wickets to finish only one behind top wicket-taker Mujeeb ur Rahman in Zimbabwe.

His form almost took Scotland to next year’s World Cup but for a controversial defeat to the West Indies in a rain-affected match. With Scotland’s international schedule reduced as a result, Sharif explained why he was happy to be guaranteed a summer playing white-ball cricket.

“I’m looking forward to joining Derbyshire this summer and the opportunity to play county cricket,” Sharif said.

“The club has a talented group of fast bowlers, many with international experience, and I hope I can learn from these guys but also make a difference on the field and help win games for Derbyshire.”