County Championship 2026: Kent announce the signing of Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud

Kent have announced the signing of Bangladesh fast bowler Hasan Mahmud for six out of their remaining eight games in the 2026 County Championship. The 26-year-old will be available for selection when they travel to the North West to take on Lancashire on Friday, June 12. 

The signing was a huge moment for Kent, with Mahmud becoming the first Bangladesh international to represent the county in its 155-year history. 

Mahmud was pleased to have received the opportunity to play domestic cricket in England and takes pride in becoming only the second player, after the great Shakib Al Hasan, to play First-Class cricket in the country, something that excites cricket fans in his homeland. 

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to play county cricket for a historic club like Kent. Playing county cricket is a dream come true, and it’s a proud moment not only for me, but also for everyone back home in Bangladesh. They’re (fans in Bangladesh) very excited to see a Bangladeshi player to play in England in county,” he said. “I’m the second one to play in county cricket after Shakib Al Hasan. so they’re very excited to watch me here,” Hasan Mahmud said on Kent’s official website. 

It is worth mentioning that Mahmud will not be the only Bangladesh-born cricketer to represent Kent in the County Championship. Arafat Bhuiyan was born in Dhaka in 1996 and played five First-Class matches for the Canterbury-based side, taking nine wickets. However, he last played for the county in 2024. 

Mahmud has played 13 Test matches for Bangladesh, taking 36 wickets at an average of 30.30. He has two five-wicket hauls to his name, including one against India in 2024. The right-arm seam bowler has 34 appearances in First-Class cricket and is currently five dismissals away from 100 wickets in the longest format of the game. 

As things stand, Kent are in the hunt to secure promotion to Division One of the County Championship. They are currently third in Division Two, having accumulated 77 points from six matches.