Published: Aug 13, 2019, 03:18 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 13, 2019, 03:18 PM (IST)
Mohammad Hafeez is set to join Middlesex on a short-term deal as replacement for AB de Villiers. Club president Mike Selvey revealed on social media on Tuesday that the veteran Pakistan allrounder has been signed to fill in for the South African, who is due to return to the club for the T20 Blast game against Hampshire on August 29.
Former South Africa captain De Villiers, who retired from international cricket on May 23 last year, signed off with a victory against Surrey last week, but he will return to the club for the final two games of the group stage, and the knockouts if Middlesex qualify.
Meanwhile, Hafeez, who hit 85 runs in five innings for Edmonton Royals in the Global T20 League in Canada, is expected to be available for Wednesday’s game at Essex.
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This will be Hafeez’s first county stint in cricket, although he did play in the Liverpool League in 2004 and 2005. He retired from Test cricket in December, but has announced his intention to be available for white-ball internationals.
He was part of Pakistan’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 squad, making 253 runs including a vital 84 against England at Trent Bridge, but was left off their central contracts list last week.
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Middlesex, who have reached the knockouts once in the last ten seasons, are placed second in the South Group with five games to play.
Hafeez has a huge task at hand. In five innings, De Villiers 253 runs, striking at 191.66, including two scores of 88 not out and a 40-ball 64.
