Zaman Akhter Joins Essex from Gloucestershire
The signing is part of Essex’s drive to rebuild ahead of the 2026 County Championship season. Currently struggling in Division One, Essex have been actively reinforcing their pace battery, with director of cricket Chris Silverwood expressing confidence in Akhter’s potential: “We’ve had our eye on him for a while … We believe his quality will strengthen our bowling group.” Akhter also responded with enthusiasm, calling Essex a club with a “rich history and strong winning culture,” and expressing eagerness to integrate with the squad during the winter.
Akhter’s journey is one of determination and perseverance. Born in Cambridge on 12 March 1999, he progressed through cricketing pathways, including Oxford MCCU and minor counties cricket, before joining SACA in 2023—a transformative step that sparked interest from multiple counties. He signed with Gloucestershire later that year, making his first-class debut in May 2023 and quickly showcasing his potential with solid performances.
His breakthrough came in the 2024 County Championship, where he recorded maiden five-wicket figures (5/89) against Yorkshire at Bristol—a performance that underlined his ability to deliver with pace and movement. These forms and his England Lions appearances—including a standout seven-for against Sri Lanka Lions—led to his next contract with Gloucestershire and eventual award of professional terms.
A wave of departures has hit Gloucestershire this season: along with Akhter, Ajeet Singh Dale is heading to Lancashire, while Tom Price and Dom Goodman join Sussex—a sign of a wider exodus from Bristol-based ranks. Gloucestershire will now need to strategize rebuilding their team strength over the coming months.
For Essex, the acquisition of Akhter is seen as a long-term investment in pace depth. Silverwood emphasized his excitement to work with him over the offseason and integrate him into preparations for the 2026 campaign. The move also highlights the success of development pathways like SACA in producing players ready for the professional level—and making an impact across multiple counties.
Akhter now joins a pace unit featuring the likes of Jamie Porter and Sam Cook, both experienced performers for Essex. While county cricket’s landscape remains competitive, his arrival could strengthen the bowling group balance and help Essex escape the lower reaches of Division One in future seasons.
In his own words, Akhter is “thrilled” to join Essex and contribute both on and off the field, learning from established teammates and carving a place for himself in a club aiming to rise up the table. For Essex, it’s a calculated move on emerging talent; for Akhter, a chance to elevate his career trajectory.