Worcestershire have completed the overseas signing of Pakistan international fast bowler Muhammad Hasnain for the final six matches of the 2022 LV= Insurance County Championship.
The 22-year-old has already featured in 26 internationals for Pakistan and Head Coach Alex Gidman says Hasnain’s ability to bowl at 90mph will add fresh impetus as Worcestershire look to continue it’s bid for success in red-ball cricket.
He is set to make his debut against Middlesex at Merchant Taylors School on July 11.
Hasnain has played eight ODIs and 18 T20Is for Pakistan since making his debut in both formats in 2019, in addition to six first-class matches in his career.
Head Coach Alex Gidman said: “Hugely exciting to have Muhammad join our squad for the last six games. We’ve played a patient game with the overseas players and tried to plot our way through the season.
“To have someone of his calibre joining us for the last six games is really exciting.
“Azhar knows him very well and helped us do a bit of research. He spoke very, very highly of him as a young man and as a character and his skill set as well.
“He is going to be exactly what the group needs, some real power and energy.
“The longer the season goes on, the harder it becomes, so to have some fresh impetus when we really need it is going to be good for the guys.
“He bowls very quick, so a different skill set to what we have, and he will hopefully give us a chance of winning more games.”
Gidman said having the extra pace Hasnain offers will be even more important given the flat nature of pitches this summer.
He said: “Absolutely. If anything, the way the wickets have been around the country, at times it has exposed our country’s weaknesses, which are raw pace and spin.
“This year has probably highlighted it even more, so to use the overseas player to try and plug those gaps is really important, and it will be fascinating to see how Muhammad impacts the group.
“We are going to try and have as strong a team as we can to finish the campaign. It may just help us and give us a slight advantage at times, hopefully.”
Muhammad Hasnain, who will play for Oval Invincibles in The Hundred, said: “I’m really looking forward to my first taste of county cricket.
“I want to help Worcestershire win matches first and foremost, but I also want to play more first class cricket, and this is an ideal opportunity.
“It will also be part of my cricketing education playing in England on different pitches.
“Azhar has had nothing but good things to say about Worcestershire, and I’m looking forward to joining up, and hopefully, I can make a similar impact to him.”
Cricket Steering Group Chairman, Paul Pridgeon, said: “We are going to have a real crack at the Championship. He is not available for the Glamorgan game but the last six Championship games from Middlesex onwards.
“On fairly flat surfaces with Duke balls, he might just help to blast teams out.”
