Kent add Yasir Shah to promotion challenge

Kent have signed Pakistan bowler Yasir Shah, the world's top-ranked Test legspinner, for four Specsavers County Championship matches in an effort to energise their promotion challenge.

It will be Yasir's first appearance in county cricket, encouraging the belief that county batsmen will find him a challenging proposition.

Yasir is set to make his debut at The Spitfire Ground on Thursday against Durham as Kent continue their promotion push. He is also available for the trips to Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire - both fellow promotion contenders - before taking on Northamptonshire at Beckenham on July 3-6.

Yasir is the second fastest bowler of all-time to take 100 wickets in Test cricket, achieving the feat in just 17 matches and was top of the ICC Test bowler rankings last summer. He is fine form, taking 46 wickets in two three-Test series for Pakistan against West Indies in 2016 and 2017, earning him both Player of the Series awards.

Kent head coach Matt Walker said: "Yasir is one of the finest spinners in the world and will add something different to our attack.

"Taking 20 wickets consistently in red-ball cricket will be key to our promotion chances and a bowler of Yasir's calibre will help to us achieve that and rotate our attack at a key period in the season."

Yasir's signing is an indication of refreshed Championship ambitions for Kent under the captaincy of Sam Northeast.

Their spinners have had little part to play in early season with James Tredwell managing two wickets in five matches and the once highly-touted Adam Riley, another offspinner, yet to make an appearance.

Kent lie second, with a five-point buffer over third-placed Worcestershire, who slipped to an innings defeat against Sussex on Monday.