LONDON, July 29: English county second division championship side Hampshire look set to announce Sri Lanka paceman Chaminda Vaas as their foreign player replacement for veteran Pakistani Wasim Akram it was revealed on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old Sri Lankan, taker of 216 wickets in 68 Tests and 282 in 227 One day Internationals, held talks with the county after Zimbabwean captain Heath Streak rejected their advances for a second spell there.

“There are still some things to sort out but we hope to make an announcement later this week,” said Hampshire’s first-team manager Paul Terry.

Should Vaas accept to play for the county he would be the second Sri Lankan to play in the present championship as spin wizard Muttiah Mualitharan is due to play his first match for Kent on Wednesday.

Kent enjoyed a successful time when they used star Sri Lankan batsman Aravinda de Silva in previous seasons.

Streak turned down Hampshire’s approaches as he wanted to spend more time with his family after Zimbabwe’s recent tour of England, in which he was one of their few successes.—AFP