Zaman Akhter
{{Short description|English cricketer (born 1999)}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Zaman Akhter
| image = 1 13 Zaman Akhter.jpg
| caption = Akhter in 2024
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|3|12|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right arm medium
| role =
| family =
| club1 = Gloucestershire
| year1 = {{nowrap|2023–present}}
| clubnumber1 = 17
| type1 = First-class
| debutdate1 = 20 May
| debutyear1 = 2023
| debutfor1 = Gloucestershire
| debutagainst1 = Durham
| type2 = List A
| debutdate2 = 1 August
| debutyear2 = 2023
| debutfor2 = Gloucestershire
| debutagainst2 = Derbyshire
| columns = 3
| column1 = FC
| matches1 = 25
| runs1 = 566
| bat avg1 = 22.64
| 100s/50s1 = 0/1
| top score1 = 70
| deliveries1 = 3,702
| wickets1 = 60
| bowl avg1 = 41.80
| fivefor1 = 3
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 5/32
| catches/stumpings1 = 6/–
| column2 = LA
| matches2 = 6
| runs2 = 27
| bat avg2 = 27.00
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 27*
| deliveries2 = 288
| wickets2 = 10
| bowl avg2 = 27.30
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 3/25
| catches/stumpings2 = 4/–
| column3 = T20
| matches3 = 5
| runs3 = 45
| bat avg3 = 15.00
| 100s/50s3 = 0/0
| top score3 = 12
| deliveries3 = 90
| wickets3 = 4
| bowl avg3 = 36.75
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 2/36
| catches/stumpings3 = 0/–
| date = 21 June 2025
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/zaman-akhter-1141032 ESPNcricinfo
}}
Zaman Akhter (born 12 March 1999) is an English cricketer who plays for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and was the 6th graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to sign a professional contract. He is a right-handed batsman and right arm medium pace bowler. He made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire on 18 May 2023, against Durham. Akhter has also played for England Lions.
Career
Akhter made his first-class cricket debut for the Oxford UCCE scheme (Oxford Brookes University and University of Oxford) against Middlesex in March 2019.{{cite web|url= https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/mcc-uni-matches-2019-1167337/middlesex-vs-oxford-mccu-1167345/full-scorecard|title=Middlesex vs. Oxford MCCU|accessdate=29 June 2023|date=18 March 2019|website=cricinfo}} He later played minor counties cricket for Cambridge,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/other-sport/cambridge-cc-duo-help-cambridgeshire-16647811|website=Cambridge-news|accessdate=May 20, 2023|date=July 25, 2019|first=Tim|last=Street|title= Cambridge CC duo help Cambridgeshire CCC to first league win of season}} and Hertfordshire.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hertscricket.org/news/zaman-akhter-signs-for-gloucestershire-ccc-34458/|website=Hertscricket.org|accessdate=May 20, 2023|first=Iain|last=Fletcher|title=Zaman Akhter signs for Gloucestershire CCC}} He played for Essex Second-XI towards the end of the 2022 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/countycricket/counties_send_scouts_watch_saca_session_scheme_continues_unearth_talent.html|website=The Cricketer|date=February 4, 2023|title= Counties send scouts to watch SACA session as scheme continues to unearth talent|first=Nick|last=Friend|accessdate=May 20, 2023}}
=Gloucestershire=
Akhter played at South Asia Cricket Academy prior to signing for Gloucestershire in March 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.gloscricket.co.uk/news/gloucestershire-sign-pace-bowler-zaman-akhter-on-an-initial-one-year-deal/|title=Gloucestershire sign seam bowler Zaman Akhter on an initial one-year deal|publisher=Gloucestershire County Cricket Club|accessdate=14 August 2024}} Gloucestershire coach Dale Benkenstein described him as having a “natural action”. He made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire on 18 May 2023 against Durham.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/county-championship-premium/zaman_akhter_gloucestershire_debut_puts_another_feather_saca_cap.html|website=The Cricketer|accessdate=May 20, 2023|first=Nick|last=Friend|date=May 18, 2023|title= Zaman Akhter's Gloucestershire debut puts yet another feather in SACA's cap}}{{Cite web|date=March 29, 2023|first=Mark|last=Halliwell|url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/gloucestershire-head-coach-dale-benkenstein-8302293?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target|website=Gloucestershire Live|title= Gloucestershire head coach Dale Benkenstein on "great signing" Marchant de Lange, his hopes for his young crop of seam bowlers and the return of Zafar Gohar|accessdate=29 June 2023}} In his third first-class match, on 13 June 2023, he impressed by taking 4-33 from 17 overs against Leicestershire.{{cite web|title=County Championship: Lewis Hill hits ton for Leicestershire v Gloucestershire|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65889145|date=13 June 2023|accessdate=14 June 2023|website=BBC Sport}} He signed a new one-year contract with the club in November 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/67413646|title=Zaman Akhter: Gloucestershire agree one-year extension|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=14 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/countycricket/loved_every_minute_gloucestershire_hand_akhter_zaman_new_one_year_contract.html|title="I loved every minute" - Gloucestershire hand Zaman Akhter new one-year contract|publisher=The Cricketer|accessdate=14 August 2024}}
He took his first five-wicket haul for Gloucestershire on the opening day of the 2024 County Championship, finishing with figures of 5/89 against Yorkshire at Bristol on 12
April 2024.{{cite web|url= https://www.gloscricket.co.uk/news/zaman-akhter-takes-maiden-five-for-as-glos-bowl-yorkshire-out-on-day-one/|website=gloscricket|accessdate=16 May 2024|title= Zaman Akhter takes maiden five-for as Glos bowl Yorkshire out on day one|date=12 April 2024}} In August 2024, he signed a contract extension with the county.{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cn5rkdx1r2ko.amp|accessdate=21 August 2024|title= Pace bowler Akhter extends Gloucestershire deal|date=20 August 2024}}
=England Lions=
Akhter was named in the England Lions squad for a four-day match against Sri Lanka at New Road, Worcester in August 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4078900/england-lions-name-squad-for-sri-lanka-tour-game|title=England Lions name squad for Sri Lanka tour game|publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board|accessdate=14 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gloscricket.co.uk/news/gloucestershire-trio-named-in-england-lions-squad/|title=Gloucestershire trio named in England Lions squad|publisher=Gloucestershire County Cricket Club|accessdate=14 August 2024}} He took five wickets for 32 runs off 11.5 overs in the tourists' first innings.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sri-lanka-in-england-2024-1385672/england-lions-vs-sri-lanka-tour-match-1447340/full-scorecard|title=England Lions vs Sri Lanka|publisher=ESPNCricinfo|accessdate=14 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thepapare.com/sri-lanka-tour-of-england-2024-warmup-game-day-1-match-report/|title=Sri Lankan batting falters as England Lions take control on Day 1|publisher=thepapare.com|accessdate=15 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sri-lanka-in-england-2024-1385672/england-lions-vs-sri-lanka-tour-match-1447340/match-report|title=Sri Lanka face fight to save game in only tour match before England Tests|publisher=ESPNCricinfo|accessdate=15 August 2024}} In December 2024, he played for the England Lions against South Africa A on their tour of South Africa.{{cite web|url= https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/zaman-akhter-makes-quick-impression-in-england-lions-tour-match-1464414?platform=amp|website=espncricinfo|accessdate=12 December 2024|title= Zaman Akhter makes quick impression in England Lions' tour match|date=10 December 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Gloucestershire County Cricket Club squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akhter, Zaman}}
Category:Cricketers from Cambridge
Category:Gloucestershire cricketers
Category:British Asian cricketers
Category:21st-century English sportsmen
{{England-cricket-bio-1990s-stub}}