Amar Rashid, the elder brother of Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil, has been included in the Unicorns squad for their pre-season friendly against Oxford MCCU in The Parks on March 26.
Rashid, 24, a former Leeds/Bradford MCCU player, impressed in trials with Leicestershire last season and is expected to be given further opportunities with the Midlands county this year.
Also a leg-spinner, Rashid was among the squad of players announced by the Unicorns recently for their forthcoming Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign, having impressed at a series of trials held over the winter. The Unicorns will also run an A team in this year’s Second XI Trophy.
Former Leicestershire reserve wicketkeeper Joel Pope will make his Unicorns debut against Oxford in the 40-over contest along with former Hampshire batsman Chris Benham and ex-Sussex opener Michael Thornely.
Benham and Thornely were also released at the end of last season and have yet to find a new county. They hope to follow the examples of Wes Durston and Mike O’Shea who have found their way back into first-class cricket having impressed with the Unicorns in their inaugural season in the CB40 last year.
Former Somerset all-rounder Keith Parsons, who led the Unicorns with distinction last summer, will captain them in The Parks in a game which starts at 12 noon.
Former Surrey and Leicestershire batsman Chris Thompson and ex-Gloucestershire opener Jackson Thompson, who played limited-overs cricket for Middlesex last summer, are also in the squad.