KARACHI: Pakistan opening batter Shan Masood has reportedly refused to extend his contract with Derbyshire County Cricket Club and is likely to join a rival club after the conclusion of the ongoing season, BBC News reported.
According to the details, Shan, who scored 1,774 runs for Derbyshire this season, will be making a transfer to another county club despite ‘a significantly improved offer’.
The county club claimed to have discussed a new contract deal with Masood for several months before the left-handed batter decided to leave, Head of Derbyshire Cricket Mickey Arthur confirmed.
“Bringing Shan to Derbyshire was my priority when joining the club last winter,” Arthur continued. “He’s shown the performances I knew he was capable of in county cricket and we’ve been keen to extend his deal since very early on in the season.
“The other county set their stall out to bring in Shan and while it is of course disappointing to lose a player of his calibre, I and everyone at the club wish him the very best for the future.”
Derbyshire have announced that Masood has turned down a new contract and will leave the club at the end of the season.
The Pakistan batter has hit more than 1,000 County Championship runs this season at an average of 82.61. #CountyCricket2022 pic.twitter.com/DBt5XrsCoR
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 19, 2022
Shan, on the other hand, claimed that it was not easy for him to make that decision, however, termed it the next phase of his life and career.
“It had not been easy making this decision. but this move is the next phase of my life and career”.
“Derbyshire is a great club with a very positive outlook and inclusive culture,” he added.
“Under Mickey’s project, I see the group challenging for trophies and reaching greater heights in the very near future,” he concluded.
It is apropos to mention here that the name of the rival club – from which Shan received the offer – is still not known.
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