Glamorgan sign Khawaja for T20 Blast

The Australia batsman will be available for all 14 of the county's group-stage fixtures and will occupy a middle order spot alongside his compatriot Shaun Marsh

^{Glamorgan have signed Usman Khawaja}

Usman Khawaja has agreed a deal to join Glamorgan for this season's T20 Blast.

The Australia batsman will be available for all 14 of the county's group-stage fixtures and will occupy a middle order spot alongside his compatriot Shaun Marsh.

"I’m delighted to have signed for Glamorgan for their Vitality Blast campaign and look forward to the challenge of helping them build on the success they achieved in last year’s competition,” said Khawaja.

"From my point of view, it would be great to be able to take them a step further and bring silverware back to Wales. Glamorgan have some fantastic players in their squad and I can’t wait to join up with the team and play with Shaun again."

Khawaja, who sits in 148th place in the Player Performance Index - an algorithm which rates T20 players worldwide over a three year period, is an astute signing by the Welsh county.

^{Khawaja has a career T20 strike rate of 126.16}

His performances in last year's Big Bash, where he scored two half-centuries in three appearances for Sydney Thunder during breaks in the Ashes series, showed an innovative short-form batsman who possesses plenty of creativity and more than his fair share of power.

Overall, Khawaja averages 32.73 in T20 cricket across his career - he has made a total of 58 appearances in the format, and boasts a strike rate of 126.16 with two centuries and nine half-centuries to his name.

Director of cricket Huw Morris said: "Usman is a world-class player who has played at the highest level for a number of years and has experience in playing T20 cricket around the world.

"Despite his classical style he is a very destructive batsman who can dominate any bowling attack and I’m sure is someone our supporters will look forward to watching this year.

"With his addition to our batting line-up, which already includes Colin Ingram and Shaun Marsh, as well our young Glamorgan players, we have batting line-up capable of continuing our success in the competition and thrill crowds in Wales."

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