Worcestershire County Cricket Club has announced the signing of Shoaib Akhtar as one of their overseas players for the 2005 season subject to clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board. Akhtar who turned out for Durham last season had a successful stay and has decided to make things more long term in 2005 when he will be available to the County from the 1st July.
Shoaib Akhtar arrives at new road after the club decided not to renew the contract of Australian Andy Bichel who had a poor year with the ball, and their second overseas player Andrew Hall is yet to confirm if he will be staying or not.
Tom Moody, director of cricket at Worcestershire believes the signing is an important step in the Club's efforts to gain promotion back to Division One of the Frizzell County Championship. He says "Shoaib is a world class strike bowler in both forms of the game and he will spearhead our drive for success in the latter half of the season. His experience of County Cricket can only be an advantage to us at New Road. He creates a huge buzz wherever he bowls and I have no doubt Shoaib will be a popular member of the squad both on and off the field."
On the news of the completed signing Shoaib says "I love playing county cricket in England and I'm really looking forward to helping Worcestershire get straight back into Division 1 of the Championship and challenge for honours in the one-day game. I'll be rested and raring to go when I start in July and, from looking at the players Worcester have in their side, confident we'll have a successful season."
Posted by Richard