Essex have confirmed the signing of Zaman Akhter, the 26-year-old right-arm quick, on a contract that runs until the end of the 2028 summer. The move adds another line to the running story of bowlers leaving Bristol, and hands Chris Silverwood an extra option as he reshapes a squad currently sitting near the foot of Division One.
“We are really excited to bring ‘Zum’ into the group,” Silverwood said. “He is a player we’ve had our eye on for a while and we really believe his quality will add and strengthen our bowling group. I look forward to working closely with Zaman over the winter period when we prepare for the 2026 season, integrating him into the squad and our plans for the season ahead.”
Akhter’s route to the professional game has never been straightforward. He first appeared in first-class cricket for Oxford MCCU back in 2019, dropped out of the county system, then found a second opportunity via the South Asian Cricket Academy. That intervention led to a Gloucestershire deal at 24 and, before long, an England Lions appearance that underlined his ability to hurry batters even on modest surfaces.
The hard yards in Second XI cricket have left him practical rather than starry-eyed, yet the prospect of Chelmsford’s livelier pitches plainly appeals. As he put it: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Essex. It’s a great club with a rich history and a strong winning culture, and I can’t wait to get started.” He added: “I’m really looking forward to contributing on and off the field, learning from some outstanding players and coaches. Speaking to Chris Silverwood, it’s a really exciting time and hopefully I can thrive at Essex to help contribute to their future success.”
Gloucestershire will feel the loss. Akhter becomes the fourth frontline seamer to confirm an exit this month, following Ajeet Singh Dale’s agreement with Lancashire and the dual departures of Tom Price and Dom Goodman to Sussex. Replacing that many overs is never simple, even with a healthy academy pathway.
For Essex, the signing looks like part of a broader rebuild. Sam Cook and Jamie Porter have carried the new-ball load for several seasons; adding raw pace alongside them should help vary the attack and spread workloads across a congested calendar. Whether that translates into an immediate rise up the Championship table will depend on more than one new recruit, but the strategy is clear enough: refresh, not rip up, and do it quickly.
