Middlesex sign ex-Gloucestershire all-rounder Gohar

Zafar Gohar took 19 Championship wickets in 2024, with best figures of 6-76

Middlesex have signed former Gloucestershire all-rounder Zafar Gohar on a two-year contract.

The 29-year-old was not offered a new deal by Gloucestershire following a season in which he was hampered by a groin injury.

He took 118 County Championship wickets for the club with his left-arm spin, having made his debut in 2021, and also hit eight half-centuries with the bat.

"Adding an international quality spinner to our line-up will strengthen us and add a greater threat on all types of surfaces," said Middlesex managing director Alan Coleman.

"Adding a senior bowler to our white-ball teams will also help the side in those situations where we've lacked some experience in the shorter formats in recent years."

Gohar took 2-54 for Pakistan against England in a one-day international in Sharjah in 2015.

He played his one and only Test match in New Zealand six years later when he had figures of 0-159 in an innings defeat.

"I'm thrilled to be joining Middlesex and making Lord's my home ground for the next two years," he said.

"It's a club steeped in history and to be a part of this next chapter is hugely exciting."

Middlesex last won a trophy in 2008 and this summer missed out on promotion in the County Championship as they finished third in Division Two, 21 points adrift of second-placed Yorkshire.