Derbyshire Falcons have confirmed the signing of Pakistan left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem for the first half of the 2026 Vitality Blast.
Sufiyan Muqeem, who has recorded best T20 international figures of 5 for 3 for Pakistan, has quickly become one of the most in-demand spinners in franchise cricket.
The 26-year-old previously worked under Derbyshire head coach Mickey Arthur during their time together at the Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League.
Across 38 T20 matches, Muqeem has maintained an impressive economy rate of just 6.35 runs per over, with half of those appearances coming at international level.
He is set to feature in Derbyshire’s opening six Vitality Blast fixtures this summer, including the East Midlands Derby against Notts Outlaws at The Central Co-op County Ground on Friday, May 29.
Arthur welcomed the signing and expressed his excitement about reuniting with the spinner, highlighting both his skill and mindset.
“I’ve worked with Sufiyan before. He handles pressure well, has strong character, and will be a very good addition for the first half of the Vitality Blast,” Arthur said.
Muqeem also shared his enthusiasm about joining the Falcons and returning to work with Arthur, while looking forward to experiencing English conditions.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Falcons and working with Mickey again,” Muqeem said. “He’s a fantastic coach, and I can’t wait to experience playing cricket in England.”
The 2026 Vitality Blast will run from May 22 to July 18, with Essex set to face Sussex in the opening match of the tournament.
At international level, Muqeem has represented Pakistan in four One-Day Internationals, taking eight wickets at an economy rate of 4.91. In T20 internationals, he has played 19 matches and claimed 27 wickets at an economy of 6.28.
