Pakistan Spinner Picks Country Above T20 League Within 4 Months After Signing Contract

Pakistan team [Source: AFP]

Sufiyan Muqeem has ditched the T20 Blast 2026 stint in England. While the young spinner was originally signed up by the Derbyshire Falcons, the cricketer has now opted to prioritize international commitments for the Pakistan team.

Sufiyan, who recently won the ‘Player of the Series’ award at the PSL 2026 season in Pakistan, was signed by Derbyshire for the 2026 T20 Blast back in January this year. He was roped in alongside another spinner, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Ghazanfar.

PSL 2026 hero Sufiyan Muqeem ditches T20 Blast

Pakistan spinner Sufiyan Muqeem has opted himself out of the upcoming 2026 T20 Blast season, doing so roughly four months after signing a contract with the Derbyshire Cricket Club.

The cricketer was recently selected by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as part of a 28-member training camp. The camp will be held between May 15 and May 21 at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore.

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Moreover, Muqeem is also in contention to be selected in Pakistan squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia at home.

Owing to a sudden change in Pakistan’s immediate international commitments, the young spinner will not be able to fulfil his planned first-half stint of the 2026 T20 Blast season with Derbyshire.

Sufiyan Muqeem on a trail of a prolific PSL 2026 season

With Sufiyan Muqeem prioritizing his international return over a T20 Blast 2026 stint, the cricketer is already on a trail of a prolific run with the ball. The youngster played an influential role for the Peshawar Zalmi franchise in their title-winning PSL 2026 campaign in Pakistan.

In 11 matches of the season, Muqeem bagged 22 wickets at an impressive bowling average of 14.40. He even won the ‘Bowler of the Tournament’ and the ‘Player of the Series’ awards at the end of the final.

It is worth noting that the Peshawar Zalmi star has not played a single international match since September 2025 last year. His productive PSL season must have surely enhanced his prospects of making a comeback to the Pakistan team for the home series against Australia.

Akif Javed joins Derbyshire as replacement

Derbyshire has now roped in Pakistan fast bowler Akif Javed as a replacement of Sufiyan for the 2026 T20 Blast season. Much like the young spinner, Javed is also selected in the 28-member Lahore training camp.

However, the speedster is not in contention to play Pakistan’s ODI series against Australia.

Mohammad Ghazanfar might join Derbyshire earlier than usual

Mohammad Ghazanfar, who was roped in by Derbyshire along with the Pakistani spinner, might now join the club in England for 2026 T20 Blast earlier than usual.

Originally, Ghazanfar was scheduled to join Derbyshire after their first six matches of the tournament owing to his Mumbai Indians stint in IPL 2026. However, since the Hardik Pandya-led side has been knocked out of the season’s playoff race, the Afghanistan spinner could now arrive as early as in game four.

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