Afzaal signs for Northants

Northamptonshire have announced that they have signed Usman Afzaal on a three-year deal, and said that they are poised to unveil another "big-name signing" next week. Afzaal left Nottinghamshire at the end of a season during which he had struggled for form, eventually losing his first-team place.

"Hopefully Afzaal will benefit from his move here," explained Stephen Coverdale, Northamptonshire's chief executive. "He is a talented batsman who played for England not so long ago. At the age of 26, he still has a long career ahead of him. To get back into the England frame he knows he has to be successful with Northamptonshire in the first division, so hopefully this move will be mutually beneficial.

"We knew Afzaal would be available at the end of the season and he was one of our main targets. Kepler Wessels [Northamptonshire's manager] has been keen for him to join us, and we are delighted that everything has worked out."

Afzaal, who was born in Rawalpindi in Pakistan, played three Tests for England against Australia in 2001, scoring 83 runs at 16.60, with a highest score of 54 at The Oval.