Naveen-ul-Haq signs for Leicestershire as T20 Blast overseas player

Leicestershire have announced the signing of Naveen-ul-Haq, the Afghanistan seamer, as an overseas player for the T20 Blast.

Naveen, 21, has quickly developed a reputation as one of the game's best young death bowlers, with an array of slower balls and an action that evokes Jasprit Bumrah. He has played in the CPL, LPL and Abu Dhabi T10 in recent months, and will become the second Afghanistan international to play for Leicestershire after Mohammad Nabi in 2018.

"I am delighted to have signed for Leicestershire in the T20 Blast," Naveen said. "It has always been an ambition of mine to play county cricket in England.

"I have heard great things about the T20 Blast. It is exciting to be joining Paul Nixon and his talented squad. I hope to help the team push for T20 silverware this year."

Nixon, Leicestershire's head coach, said: "Naveen is an extremely consistent T20 performer in all global competitions. His clever changes of pace mixed with quicker balls delivered with his unique bowling action make it very tough for opposing batsmen.

"As well as being a talented player under pressure, our young team will learn a lot from a high-class performer like Naveen."

Leicestershire were one ball away from reaching their first Finals Day since 2011 in last summer's Blast. Their quarter-final against Nottinghamshire ended in a tie thanks to a final-ball misfield in the deep, and they were eliminated having lost more wickets.

They announced the signing of Wiaan Mulder, the South Africa allrounder, as an overseas player for the County Championship and Royal London Cup last month, and confirmed this week that Callum Parkinson - the twin brother of England spinner Matt - has been installed as vice-captain following a contract extension.

Elsewhere, left-arm wristspinner Jake Lintott has signed his first professional contract at the age of 27, with Warwickshire tying him to a three-year deal. Lintott took 10 wickets in last year's Blast while conceding just 6.30 runs per over, and has signed a deal to play for the club across formats.

"Jake made a fantastic impression during our Vitality Blast campaign in 2020 and we're thrilled to secure his immediate future with the club," Paul Farbrace, Warwickshire's director of cricket, said. "Slow left-arm unorthodox bowlers are not easy to discover and Jake provides another dimension to our spin bowling attack, alongside slow left-arm orthodox Danny Briggs and offspinner Alex Thomson."

"It's been a long time coming but it's an amazing feeling to secure my first full contract in the professional game," Lintott said. "To join such a big county with the traditions of Warwickshire and to make Edgbaston my home ground for the foreseeable future is something that I have always aspired to."