Scotland international Safyaan Sharif hopes to perform well enough to continue to earn county cricket contracts after signing a white-ball deal with Derbyshire.
The 26-year-old fast bowler, who has played 35 one-day internationals and 24 Twenty20s for Scotland, will be available for Derbyshire’s Royal London One-Day Cup – where he is set to make his debut tomorrow – and Vitality Blast campaigns.
Sharif, who has played at second XI level with Northamptonshire, said he was “absolutely delighted” by the Derbyshire deal and achieving one of his goals of first-team county cricket.
“My main ambition is to at least get a few-year county deals and just to perform well and show the world that there is a bowler from Scotland who is wanting to make a name for himself,” said Sharif. “I’ve always wanted to play county cricket and try and make my name down south in that league, so hopefully things go well.”
Sharif, who joined Premier Division side Glenrothes in January last year, also praised the influence of Scotland coach Grant Bradburn, who has been keen to get Scottish players playing white-ball cricket at county level.
“Credit goes to our head coach who has approached county sides and put deals through for us,” Sharif said.
Announcing the deal, Derbyshire tweeted Sharif’s achievements at the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe earlier in the year, where he took the wicket of West Indies star Chris Gayle first ball in a do-or-die game that Scotland came so close to winning and claiming a place at next year’s tournament.
“That was great to see that level of support from Derbyshire,” he said.
“To get Chris Gayle first ball was a dream come true,” added Sharif, the joint leading wicket-taker in the qualifiers, taking 17 at an average of 13.94. He also got his maiden ODI five-wicket haul in the tie against Zimbabwe.
Sharif’s first game for Derbyshire is set to be in the Royal London One-Day Cup against Warwickshire tomorrow at Edgbaston.
“I’ve never played at Edgbaston before and can’t wait to play against top quality sides,” said Sharif.
Derbyshire cricket advisor Kim Barnett said: “We’ve been monitoring Sharif for a while.
“He is a talented quick bowler and he showed this winter with Scotland that he has the ability to take wickets and perform to a high standard.”
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