Leicestershire announce overseas signings for 2018

The Pakistan pair of Muhammad Abbas and Sohail Khan will share overseas duties for the Grace Road club in the coming campaign

^{Muhammad Abbas has been signed by Leicestershire for the 2018 season}

The Pakistan pair of Muhammad Abbas and Sohail Khan will share overseas duties for Leicestershire in 2018.

The two seamers have been confirmed as the county’s principle imports ahead of the new campaign, with Abbas available for the majority of the term and Khan filling in between mid-April and mid-June.

Abbas, who will also feature for the Foxes in the T20 Blast, is expected to be on international duty during the early part of the summer.

Leicestershire have said they are in the process of signing a second overseas player for the T20 competition.

^{Sohail Khan, left, will fill in for Abbas for part of the season}

Abbas said: “I am really pleased to be joining Leicestershire County Cricket Club for the 2018 season. It has been a dream of mine to play in county cricket and I am looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and working with head coach Paul Nixon and the staff.”

Khan added: “I loved having the opportunity to play for Pakistan in England in 2016 and I am very happy to be coming back to play for Leicestershire County Cricket Club.”  

Leicestershire head coach Paul Nixon said: “We have been looking for a quality fast bowler as our overseas professional and Muhammad Abbas ticks all of the boxes.

"His Test match record is different class, he is the new kid on the block, and I am delighted to secure his signature.

“But we expect to be without Muhammad for the first part of the season and it was vital that we secured high-class cover.

"Sohail Khan has a superb record both in red and white ball cricket, he has good experience on English conditions, and really stood out on the last tour when Pakistan played here. Sohail’s bowling will be ideally suited to early season conditions here.”