Zaman Akhter, born in Cambridge, agreed a three-year deal in August 2025 to join Essex from Gloucestershire at the conclusion of the 2025 season - becoming one of the latest additions to the Men's squad ahead of the 2026 season.
Akhter is a bowling all-rounder who's initial taste of first-class cricket came for Oxford UCCE in 2019 after cutting his cricketing teeth in at minor counties level for Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. The right-handed seam bowler and batter impressed at this level and gained a move to the South Asian Cricket Academy where he became the sixth graduate to turn professional when he joined Gloucestershire in March 2023.
Zaman made his Gloucestershire first-class debut against Durham two months later. It didn't take him long to hit the ground running as he took figures of 4-33 in 17 overs against Leicestershire in his third County Championship match. Akhter went onto make his List A debut in the season of 2023.
A year on, the seam bowler claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in April 2024 when he took 5-89 against Yorkshire. In the August, after a series of impressive performances, Zaman was selected for the England Lions squad for a four-day match against Sri Lanka at Worcestershire's New Road. He took 5-32 in just 11.5 overs and was again called up the following December for the Lions tour of South Africa.
Having achieved several five-wicket hauls in various formats and England Lions recognition before turning 26, Zaman Akhter is set to make his Essex debut in the 2026 season.
