Ireland gets contract offer at Leics

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

Leicestershire have offered a contract to former Zimbabwe one-day international seamer Anthony Ireland. The 28-year-old had four seasons with Gloucestershire and two with Middlesex before he was released at the end of last season.

Ireland has trained with Leicestershire throughout the winter and the decision of Wayne White to join Lancashire has created opportunities and freed up funds for the cash-strapped county.

Leicestershire have offered Ireland a one-year deal and have verbally agreed terms on the contract which they expect the player to sign next week.

Meanwhile Leicestershire have offered a revised contract to their captain Ramnaresh Sarwan which reflects his likely unavailability for seven LV= County Championship matches next season because of his international commitments with the West Indies.

Leicestershire expected Sarwan to be available for a full season but his recall by the West Indies for one-day international cricket means that he will only be able to play county cricket at the start and end of the season.

The county now need to find a locum overseas player for the middle part of the season and are closing in on a current Australia international to deputise while Sarwan is playing in the ICC Champions Trophy and in the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament in June and July.

Date: 01/03/2013 18:31:49 by Paul Bolton
In: Today | Leicestershire |