Who Do Shadab Khan and Josh Philippe Replace at Lancashire and Surrey in Vitality Blast 2026?

Lancashire and Surrey have both moved to reshape their overseas options mid-tournament, targeting two very different types of player for very different reasons. Lancashire brought in Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan as a direct replacement for Chris Green, who will take no further part in the 2026 Vitality Blast. Surrey added Australia’s Josh Philippe, though no official club statement named the player he replaced or the specific overseas slot he fills. Both signings land ahead of a congested run of fixtures in July.

Shadab Khan Lancashire Vitality Blast 2026

Lancashire confirmed the signing in an official announcement. Shadab joins as a straight replacement for Chris Green, who was ruled out for the rest of the season through injury. Most sources report only that Green is unavailable for the remainder of the tournament without specifying the nature of the injury; one source identifies it as a fractured thumb.

Shadab brings genuine dual-threat value. The Pakistan leg-spinner and middle-order batter has played 124 T20Is, taking 123 wickets at an average of 24 and an economy of 7.4, while also accumulating 1,009 runs at a batting strike rate of 144.

Josh Philippe Joins Surrey

Surrey have added Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe to their squad. No official statement from Surrey or the Kia Oval was available at the time of writing naming the specific overseas player Philippe replaces or the slot he fills. The signing was confirmed through third-party tournament coverage ahead of the June 26 fixtures.

Philippe is primarily a franchise batter. His county experience is limited to club cricket: Taunton Cricket Club in 2016 and Newcastle Cricket Club in 2017, with no prior Vitality Blast or professional county stint on record.

Player Backgrounds and Records

Shadab’s T20I numbers speak for themselves: 123 wickets from 124 matches, an economy of 7.4, and a batting strike rate of 144 across 1,009 runs. He’s the kind of overseas signing who can influence a match with either skill.

Philippe’s T20I record is modest. The most recent available figures show 15 matches, 186 runs, an average of 12.40, a strike rate of 108.10, and a high score of 45. An earlier set from the same 15-match sample gives 160 runs, an average of 12.31, and a strike rate of 108.84, with the same high score. The most recent data point has been used where a choice was required.

His franchise T20 record tells a different story. BBL figures also carry a discrepancy across sources: one set shows 101 matches, 2,453 runs, a strike rate of 137.11, 17 fifties, and a high score of 99*; another gives 108 matches, 2,726 runs, an average of 28.10, a strike rate of 137.30, 18 fifties, and a high score of 99. Both sets confirm he’s a capable domestic T20 performer operating well above what his international numbers suggest.

Where Both Teams Stand Now

Lancashire sit fifth in the North Group: four matches played, two wins, two losses, eight points, and a net run rate of −0.864. Four fixtures remain: away to Leicestershire on June 26, home to Derbyshire on July 6, home to Yorkshire on July 10, and home to Durham on July 12.

Surrey are third in the South Group: six matches played, three wins, three losses, 12 points, and a net run rate of +0.507. Six fixtures remain: away to Sussex on June 26, away to Essex on July 1, away to Gloucestershire on July 4 in a cross-pool fixture, home to Sussex on July 8, away to Kent on July 10, and home to Essex on July 12.

Philippe steps into a Surrey side sitting right on the qualification edge. With Shadab Khan Lancashire Vitality Blast 2026 dominating the signing news this week, Surrey’s move for Philippe has been the quieter story, but the fixture run ahead means both clubs will need their new arrivals to contribute from the first game.