Leics to sign Sarwan cover

Leicestershire are set to announce the signing of a new overseas player next week to cover Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Sarwan, 32, will start the new season with Leicestershire but could miss seven County Championship matches while on West Indies duty.

He turned his back on international cricket to sign a three-year deal with Leicestershire last season but was unexpectedly recalled to the West Indies squad for the Australia tour in February.

Sarwan is now most likely to be included in West Indies squad for the Champion Trophy, which they begin on June 7 against Pakistan.

Leicestershire have confirmed one signing for 2013, fast bowler Anthony Ireland who joins on a one-year deal.

Ireland, 28, played 26 ODIs for Zimbabwe, taking 38 at 29.34, before embarking on a county career. He was released by Middlesex at the end of 2012 but has been training at Grace Road for much of the close season.

Ireland moved to Lord's ahead of the 2011 season after enjoying a four-year spell with Gloucestershire, for whom he took 91 wickets at 30.60.