March 16, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 15: Pakistan’s young and talented all-rounder Yasir Arafat on Saturday said he was excited about playing for Kent in the English county season this year.

Yasir, who on Thursday signed a lucrative 80,000-pound sterling contract with the leading county, will be replacing South Africa’s former all-rounder Andrew Hall in the Kent line-up.

“I’m very excited at being selected as the only foreign player for Kent this year,” said Yasir while talking to Dawn on Saturday.

Kent has also received the approval from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for Yasir’s nomination. The club also confirmed that Yasir will be available for the entire season unless he is called by Pakistan for international duty.

The all-rounder said that he was also given a go-ahead signal from the PCB to play in this year’s county season.

Yasir was the first signed in 2006 by Sussex as a replacement for fellow paceman Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

Yasir’s impressive performance, both with bat and ball, helped Sussex seal a victory in the championship, as well as a one-day tournament at Lord’s last season.

Yasir also took 16 wickets in the Twenty20 Cup for his county club in the same season.

He left Sussex for Kent at the end of the 2006 season and helped his new county to the Twenty20 Cup in 2007, claiming 14 wickets in the competition.

Yasir is also the second highest wicket-taker during his campaign in the Twenty20 Cup for his club.

Commenting on the upcoming domestic ABN-Amro one-day tournament, Yasir said he would be available for his domestic engagements before flying to his county club matches in England.

He will leave for England in the second week of April.