Pace bowler Akhter extends Gloucestershire deal

Zaman Akhter is a recent call-up to the England Lions squad

Gloucestershire pace bowler Zaman Akhter has signed a one-year contract extension to the end of the 2025 season.

Akhter, 25, was called up by the England Lions this month and took 5-17 in the first innings of their four-day match against Sri Lanka.

He made his professional debut for Gloucestershire in May 2023 and has since made 13 first-class and nine white-ball appearances.

“I’m really excited to be staying at Gloucestershire for another season," Akhter told the club website.

"We’ve made great strides as a team so far this year and I’m looking forward to building on all that good work for the rest of this season and into next.”

Gloucestershire head coach Mark Alleyne added: "He is truly a multi-skilled cricketer with exciting pace, a great athlete in the field and also an emerging batter with good ability.”