Webdesk: As a short-term replacement for Afghanistan seamer Naveen-ul-Haq, Pakistan quick Naseem Shah joined Leicestershire County for the T20 Blast.
Naveen is in India after Lucknow Super Giants made the IPL playoffs.
Naseem arrived in the UK on Tuesday night and joined his teammates before Thursday’s T20 match against Lancashire.
The 20-year-old has 191 career wickets, including 73 in T20s at 29.75.
“A precocious talent, Naseem made his maiden first-class appearance aged 15, before making his Pakistan debut in Brisbane as a 16-year-old in 2019 – claiming 80 wickets on the international stage,” Leicestershire said in a news release.
He now plays in Pakistan’s white-ball teams. Naseem made his ODI and T20I debuts in August and played 27 times for Pakistan, including in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, when Pakistan finished runners-up.
“Naseem has Vitality Blast experience, taking five wickets at 20 for Gloucestershire in Bristol last summer. After Pakistan’s ODI series against Netherlands and the Asia Cup, he pulled out of Welsh Fire’s The Hundred.
Shah was pleased to join the team briefly.
“I’m excited to join the Foxes for the Vitality Blast. The Pakistani seamer said he was excited to meet his teammates and help Leicestershire win games.
Director of Cricket Claude Henderson said, “Having Naveen in the IPL playoffs meant we had to make a quick call and we are extremely excited to have secured someone of Naseem’s calibre.
“He’s a world-class T20 cricketer, and we look forward to seeing him in a Leicestershire shirt soon.”
Former Foxes include Mohammad Abbas, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, and Umar Akmal.
