Derbyshire sign spin bowler Ghazanfar for T20 Blast

Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar will be available for Derbyshire's entire T20 campaign

Derbyshire Falcons have signed Afghanistan spin bowler Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar for the upcoming T20 Blast campaign.

The 18-year-old made his Test debut last year and his efforts with the white ball saw him named in the International Cricket Council's Men's ODI Team of the Year for 2024.

His claimed 21 white-ball wickets at international level last year at an average of just 13.57, with his best haul of 6-26 coming in against Bangladesh in November.

Wisden described Ghazanfar as a player with "the world at his feet" after he was named in that side.

Derbyshire head of cricket Mickey Arthur said bringing Ghazanfar to the County Ground is "really exciting"

"AM Ghazanfar is a player who we will be seeing at the very top of the international game for many years to come and our supporters are in for a treat watching him," Arthur told the club website.

Ghazanfar, a spinner capable of turning the ball both directions, joins a Derbyshire side that have failed to get beyond the group stage of the T20 Blast since reaching the quarter-finals in 2022.

But with Arthur at the helm, the teenager said he was eager to work with the former South Africa, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka head coach.

"Derbyshire have got a rich cricket history and I'm really looking forward to playing for the team, and to work with a legendary coach like Mickey Arthur, who has so much experience and has won so many things, he can help me to take my game to a new level," Ghazanfar said.