Northants Steelbacks have pulled off a major coup by signing Pakistan international Shahid Afridi for the start of their NatWest T20 Blast campaign.
The 34-year-old, who has had spells in county cricket with Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Kent and Hampshire in the past, will join the Steelbacks on May 15 and play their first six North Group fixtures, subject to clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board.
A powerful right-hander and attacking leg-spinner, Afridi is known as one of the most feared all-rounders in world cricket and has a wealth of experience to offer at Wantage Road.
A World Twenty20 winner in 2009, he has played 27 Tests, 389 one-day internationals and 77 T20s for his country.
Afridi, Pakistan’s current T20 skipper, made his international format debut against England at Bristol in 2006 and has since scored 1,142 runs at an average of 19.03 and taken 81 wickets at 22.44. He has also played 153 domestic T20s, hitting 2,350 runs and collecting 177 wickets.
Northants head coach David Ripley said: “This is a very exciting signing for us. Shahid is without doubt the most outstanding spin-bowling all-rounder in one-day international cricket of the last five years.
“He is a fierce competitor and undoubted match-winner with bat and ball. Afridi brings a wealth of experience to the dressing room with over 230 Twenty20 games as well as captaining his country.”
1 - One player has scored 1,000+ runs and taken 50+ wickets in T20Is: Shahid Afridi. Star. @NorthantsCCC @NatWestT20Blast
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) January 26, 2015
The Steelbacks will be hoping Afridi’s arrival can spark an upturn in fortunes after they failed to advance past the group stage in the defence of their trophy last season.
Afridi added: “I am looking forward to playing in the NatWest T20 Blast.
“I have always enjoyed playing in England, where I have always found the crowds good natured and knowledgeable. I am very happy to be joining a good Northants squad in the search for Twenty20 success.”
Afridi becomes Northamptonshire’s third signing in recent days after the club captured South Africans Richard Levi and Rory Kleinveldt.
Boom Boom is coming to town! @SAfridiOfficial
— Alex Wakely (@AlexWakely1) January 26, 2015