The Pakistan Cricket Board has given fast bowler Wahab Riaz the clearance to play for the English County Club Kent this summer.
At a time when the board first revoked and then refused a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to former captain Shahid Afridi to play for Hampshire on disciplinary grounds, it had also allowed Riaz to play in the Sri Lankan Twenty20 League in July.
“It is a great opportunity for me to improve my bowling by playing in England for Kent,” the left-arm pacer said.
Wahab said he would complete his stint with Kent that month then going to Sri Lanka for the Twenty20 league. He would then return to England to play more matches for Kent.
“Obviously I will be available on priority basis for Pakistan in their next international assignment on August in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Kent, who have a small squad due to their financial situation, have been hit by a number of injuries to their pace bowlers this season and have often been forced to field an inexperienced line-up.
Riaz made his Test debut at The Oval on the tour of England last year and took five wickets in the first innings to help a four-wicket win for Pakistan. Overall he has played seven Tests and taken 17 wickets along with 38 scalps in 22 one-day internationals.
The club hopes the deal will be sealed next week, once Riaz is granted the required visa.
