Ashes outcast Shoaib Bashir has flown to Zimbabwe for a week of specialist coaching with former Pakistan wrist-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed.
Bashir, 22, spent two years being primed to face Australia down under but was overlooked by England for all five Tests, raising questions about his future on the international stage.
However, it was the ECB that offered a player who officially joined Derbyshire on a two-year contract on Thursday – three weeks after Daily Mail Sport exclusively revealed news of his switch from Somerset – the chance to work with Mushtaq ahead of his first pre-season with the midlands club.
Mushtaq has been back working as a spin consultant in English cricket since July 2024, and is currently part of England’s coaching staff at the Under-19 World Cup. During six years as the Test team’s spin coach between 2008-14, he was highly valued by Graeme Swann, and also worked with another world-class performer in Monty Panesar.
Bashir travelled to Harare on Wednesday evening for one-to-one sessions with the 55-year-old scheduled around England’s matches – the first of which is against Pakistan on Friday.
It fits with plans by Rob Key, England’s director of cricket, to play a leading role in the development of the off-spinner who has 68 wickets in 19 Test appearances. After Bashir’s Somerset deal expired on October 31, Key advised him not to make demands on playing time during his search for a new county employer, saying that the ECB would find ways to get him both playing time and regular contact with leading coaches in high-class environments.
Shoaib Bashir was restricted to bowling in the nets on the tour of Australia
Bashir presents Glenn McGrath with a pink cap before play in Sydney, as part of fundraising in honour of the Australian legend’s wife Jane, who died of cancer in 2008
Ambitious Derbyshire, who finished third in Division Two last year, emerged as frontrunners, with Bashir sold on Mickey Arthur’s developmental record in a career that has seen him coach South Africa, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the world stage.
Upon his virtual unveiling yesterday, Bashir called Arthur ‘one of the best coaches in the world’, suggesting the move was ‘a great opportunity for any young player.’
He added: ‘I’m keen to play more red-ball cricket, continue my development in the white-ball formats, and challenge for promotion with Derbyshire. This is an exciting move and I can’t wait to meet the group.’
Arthur, currently working at the Bangladesh Premier League, said: ‘Our recruitment is all about bringing in quality players who can build on the solid foundations we laid in 2025. To be able to bring in a current England international is really exciting. He will bring great energy and experience into our dressing room, despite having so much time to still improve his game.’
Despite being England’s first-choice spinner over the past two years, Bashir struggled to get game time with Somerset, who preferred left-armer Jack Leach, leading to loan spells with Glamorgan and Worcestershire in a search for match action.
Derby’s extra bounce in recent seasons should encourage the 6ft 4in Bashir, who will be looking to drastically improve a Championship record of only 18 wickets at 84 runs apiece.
He faces competition for a place in Derbyshire’s first-class XI with ex-Lancashire slow left armer Jack Morley, although the two could find themselves paired together should conditions suit.
