Saeed Ajmal, England’s chief tormentor in their series whitewash by Pakistan, will play county cricket again this summer as Worcestershire’s second overseas player in the Friends Life t20.
The off-spinner took 24 wickets in three Tests against England in the United Arab Emirates and will rejoin Worcestershire for the Twenty20 Cup after a brief but successful first stint in county cricket last summer.
Ajmal’s 17 County Championship wickets in three matches included two five-wicket hauls and he also took 16 Twenty20 wickets and a further eleven in four Clydesdale Bank 40 appearances.
“He showed last summer what a quality bowler he is. His recent performances against England only go to back this up and we are delighted that he has agreed to return to New Road for a second time,” said Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes.
Last month Rhodes jumped to the defence of Ajmal when the legality of the off-spinner’s action was questioned by former England captain Bob Willis.
Rhodes, a former England wicketkeeper, said that he had seen nothing wrong with Ajmal’s action last summer and was keen to re-sign him for the T20 competition even though international commitments were likely to prevent him playing for a longer period.
Worcestershire have already recruited out-of-favour Australia opening batsman Phil Hughes as their overseas player for the entire summer.