Naseem Shah joins Leicestershire Foxes for Vitality Blast games as cover for Naveen-ul-Haq

Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah has joined the Leicestershire Foxes on a short-term deal. The right-arm speedster will join the English county club as a cover for Naveen-ul-Haq, who is currently with the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2023.

Naseem, capable of hitting over 90mph regularly, will land in England on Tuesday and will link up with his new teammates ahead of Thursday's away game at Lancashire. He has picked up 73 wickets in 76 T20 matches at 29.75 with one fifer.

Upon joining the Foxes, the 20-year-old said, as quoted by the team's official website:

"I’m very excited to be joining the Foxes for the start of the Vitality Blast. I can’t wait to meet my teammates and help win games for Leicestershire.”

The Pakistan star has prior experience in the Vitality Blast as he picked up five wickets during his spell in Bristol last summer. He was also due for a stint with the Welsh Fire for The Hundred last year before pulling out due to Pakistan's ODI series against the Netherlands and Asia Cup.

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"He’s proven to be a world-class performer in T20 cricket" - LCC Foxes director on Naseem Shah

Claude Henderson. (Image Credits: Getty)

Foxes director Claude Henderson underlined that they are gifted to have someone of Naseem's calibre. He expects the fast bowler to live up to the expectations.

"Having Naveen in the IPL playoffs meant we had to make a quick call and we are extremely excited to have secured someone of Naseem’s calibre. He’s proven to be a world-class performer in T20 cricket, and we look forward to seeing him in a Leicestershire shirt shortly," Henderson said.

Leicestershire Foxes are also the most successful team in the tournament history with three titles. The 2024 edition of Vitality Blast began with Lancashire beating Derbyshire by four wickets in pursuit of 180.