Derbyshire Cricket – Peakfan’s blog: Ghazanfar returns for second half of Blast!

After his successful spell with the county last year, I didn’t expect to see Mohammad Ghazanfar return in 2026.

He did very well, even if he bowled at the start of the innings, rather than in the middle overs where I suspect he will be more dangerous. Samit Patel wanted those overs last year and as skipper he got them. In 2026, Matt Montgomery will likely bowl in the Powerplay, as he did successfully for Nottinghamshire, so Ghazanfar will be in more familiar territory.

He is obviously a very fine bowler and has continued to bowl with control and take wickets over the winter in the various Mumbai Indians franchises. Any spinner who goes for under eight in T20 is doing well and he has an economy rate of under seven. That is quite remarkable for any bowler, but especially one who is still only 19.

He will be available for the second half of the Blast and I understand he would also be able to play should Derbyshire make the knockout stages. That can only be a good thing and again I can only applaud the standard of recruitment this winter. 

Yes, his fielding left a little to be desired last year, but hopefully that has improved. We shouldn’t need his batting, although he showed he can hit a long ball. His bowling will continue to be a handful. It will give his captain control and it speaks volumes for how he enjoyed his previous stay that he has returned. A bowler who can turn it both ways will always be prized and Mickey Arthur has managed to land two of them, in Sufyan Moqim and now Ghazanfar.

Be honest, we are all getting a little bit excited now, aren’t we? 

What a winter this has been.

Do you agree?