Perth Scorchers sign on Yasir Arafat

Yasir Arafat, the Pakistan allrounder, has been brought in by the Perth Scorchers as a replacement for West Indies' Dwayne Smith. Smith, who had not flown to Australia ahead of the Scorchers' opening game on Sunday, is expected to miss the entire Big Bash League due to personal reasons.

Arafat has not played for Pakistan in over a year - he last played in the World Twenty20 in September 2012 - but is something of a travelling Twenty20 specialist. He has played domestic leagues in England, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Scotland, apart from turning out for Khan Research Laboratories in Pakistan. He has played 165 T20s in all, scoring 1025 runs at a strike rate of 119 and 207 wickets with a best of 4 for 5.

Should Smith become available to play during the course of the tournament, the Scorchers can apply to the BBL technical committee to have him reinstated in the squad. Their other overseas signing in an 18-man squad is South African pacer Alfonso Thomas.

The Scorchers began their campaign with a three-wicket loss to the Brisbane Heat in an away game. Next up for them is a home game against the Melbourne Renegades on Boxing Day.