LEICESTER, Aug 1: Leicestershire have confirmed that Pakistan ‘A’ leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad will stand in as their overseas player while Dinesh Mongia is away on international duty. Mansoor, 18, is flying direct from his country's participation in the Top End Series in Australia and officials hope he will arrive in time to play in Wednesday's Championship match.

He had been scheduled to play for Leicestershire's 2nd XI for the remainder of the summer anyway, and spent time working with Tim Boon, Leicestershire's coach, earlier in the season.

“This is very much an investment in potential and follows the Club's philosophy of developing emerging talent which can grow with us in the future,” Boon said. “I first spotted Mansoor when I was out in Pakistan last winter when he took five wickets against England in Lahore. He also comes highly recommended by Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer.

“He is a wrist spinner who will hopefully give us a vital cutting edge which we have been missing in Championship matches on occasions when we have been in strong positions. He is also a more than capable middle order batsman who at 18 already has two first-class hundreds to his name.”—Agencies