MUMBAI, March 27: Indian left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan will play for English county Worcestershire this season as a replacement for Australian paceman Nathan Bracken.

Zaheer, 27, dropped from the Indian team after the recent Pakistan tour, will step in for Bracken, who has earned a regular place in the national squad, the county said on Monday.

“I’m delighted to be playing a full season,” Zaheer said.

“Seniors in the team have been advising me to play county cricket. It will help me develop as a bowler and stay match-fit.”

Zaheer has played 42 Tests and 107 one-dayers

Meanwhile, Jimmy Maher will replace fellow Australian Michael Hussey as one of Durham’s two overseas players this season.

Test batsman Hussey’s absence means South African Dale Benkenstein will captain the north-east team.

Hussey, currently in South Africa, became an integral part of the Australian team following his prolific season with Durham and Cricket Australia have requested him to rest at the end of the tour to Bangladesh in April and be available for training camps mid season.

Speaking from Cape Town, Hussey said, “Last year at Durham was one of the most enjoyable I have had as a cricketer.

“The group of players and the atmosphere at the club was unbelievable and to achieve the success we did was fantastic,” he added of a campaign where Durham gained promotion to the First Division of the County Championship, the English domestic game’s first-class competition.

“It is unfortunate that by achieving my dream of playing for Australia, I can’t return to Durham for a second year.

“I have unfinished business at the Riverside and hopefully I can return in future years.”

Maher will return to Durham following the conclusion of the domestic season in Australia.

He had a brief stint at the Riverside covering for Hussey last season and is currently in a rich vein of form for Queensland, hitting his career best 223 in the Sheffield Shield final against Victoria.—Agencies