Shan Masood among five Pakistani players to feature in County Championship 2025

Masood, Hasan, and Gohar will feature in the T20 Blast, while Abbas will play six County matches in May and September.

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The 2025 Rothesay County Championship kicks off on April 4 in England, with five Pakistani cricketers set to take part, including Test captain Shan Masood, fast bowlers Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Kashif Ali, and left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar.

Masood, Hasan, and Gohar will also be involved in the Vitality T20 Blast tournament, starting in June after the initial round of County Championship matches.

While Masood and Hasan will be available following their commitments to Pakistan Super League franchises, Abbas will play six matches spread across May and September.

Kashif, who has joined Kent, will not feature in their opening game against Northamptonshire, while Gohar is set to play for Middlesex at Lord’s in their season opener.

Notably, Gohar, who has now acquired British citizenship, will feature as a local player for Middlesex.

Here’s a brief overview of the Pakistani players in the County Championship:

Shan Masood

The 35-year-old Pakistan Test captain will represent Leicestershire across all formats this year. Having impressed in previous seasons with Derbyshire and Yorkshire, Masood is now set to join Leicestershire in late May for the full season.

Hasan Ali

Returning for a third consecutive year with Warwickshire, Hasan will be available for all formats after rejoining the squad at the end of May. He has been a fan favorite at Edgbaston and is expected to play through the entire season.

Mohammad Abbas

Abbas will make his debut for Nottinghamshire after signing a contract to play six County Championship fixtures. Known for his impressive wicket-taking ability, Abbas previously played for Hampshire, where he claimed 180 wickets in 47 matches.

Kashif Ali

The young pacer, who made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2025, joins Kent for the season. While he is available for April and May, he will not play in Kent's opening match.

Zafar Gohar

Gohar, 30, joins Middlesex as a local player and will feature in the opening match at Lord’s. He has previously impressed with Gloucestershire and brings a wealth of experience, having been a key player in the PSL for Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United.