LONDON: English cricket county Glamorgan have confirmed the signing of Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman for the first eight games of the T20 Blast.

Lef-handed Fakhar has won 30 Twenty20 caps for Pakistan.

According to BBC Sport, the move follows the injury to Australia’s Shaun Marsh who is currently out with a broken arm suffered in the nets. His brother, all-rounder Mitch Marsh, is currently due to join the county after the first four games.

The 29-year-old was a regular for Pakistan in the just-ended 50-over ICC World Cup with a top score of 62 against India, taking his tally to 44 appearances in ODI cricket.

He is scheduled to make his debut as Glamorgan begin their Blast campaign at home to Somerset on Thursday provided he arrives in time.

“Fakar Zahman has signed up and agreed the contract,” said Glamorgan head coach Maynard. “We are hopeful he will play against Somerset. It is whether the visa comes through in time and he gets on the flight and is here for Thursday.

“We will have to monitor when he arrives and see how he is feeling.”

Their current overseas player, Marnus Labuschagne, is due to leave at the end of the Championship match against Middlesex because of Australian squad commitments.

Glamorgan are waiting to see whether Mitchell Marsh is named in the Australia squad for the Ashes which would rule him out of joining up at Sophia Gardens.

“It is a bit watch this space with Mitch,” said Glamorgan director of cricket Mark Wallace. “When we signed him a few months ago he was quite a way from the Ashes squad.

“His stock has risen over the last few weeks and he has got a good chance to be in that squad now. If that comes about we will have to have a look at what our options are.”

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2019