Naseem Shah joins Leicestershire as T20 Blast cover for Naveen-ul-Haq

The Afghanistan seamer remains at the Indian Premier League after Lucknow Super Giants reached the playoffs and will arrive late for the competition, missing at least the opening three games, starting against Lancashire

Leicestershire have signed up Pakistan fast-bowler Naseem Shah for the start of their T20 Blast season with Naveen-ul-Haq's arrival delayed due to his participation in the Indian Premier League.

The Afghanistan seamer's Lucknow Super Giants side face Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator on Wednesday (May 24) - less than 24 hours before the Running Foxes kick off their campaign at Lancashire Lightning.

Naveen is also set to miss the matches against Birmingham Bears (May 26) and Worcestershire Rapids (May 29).

Naseem's stint could be extended if Super Giants progress all the way to the final on Sunday (May 28) but it is for the first three games, starting at Old Trafford on Thursday, initially.

^{Naveen's LSG have progressed to the playoffs after finishing third in the regular-season (ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)}

An all-format Pakistan international, Naseem has taken 73 wickets in 76 T20s with an economy rate of 7.80.

He played three times for Gloucestershire in last season's Blast, a spell that was cut short by having to leave the club for personal reasons. He was also forced to withdraw from the men's Hundred - having been due to represent Welsh Fire - after being called up by Pakistan.

"I'm very excited to be joining the Foxes for the start of the Vitality Blast," he said. "I can't wait to meet my teammates and help win games for Leicestershire."

^{The three-time winners are hoping to improve on last season's group-stage exit (David Rogers/Getty Images)}

Though it was anticipated that Naveen could be absent for the start of Leicestershire's Blast season, it is nevertheless a blow to be without their premier pacer for the opening rounds.

No bowler has taken more than the 50 wickets he claimed across the 2021 and 2022 seasons, with his array of skills making him a force at both ends of the innings.

Super Giants have lost Jaydev Unadkat to injury while Mark Wood departed the competition early to attend the birth of his second child. Naveen has taken seven wickets in as many appearances as part of an attack spearheaded by legspinner Ravi Bishnoi.

"Having Naveen in the IPL playoffs meant we had to make a quick call and we are extremely excited to have secured someone of Naseem's calibre," director of cricket Claude Henderson added.

"He's proven to be a world-class performer in T20 cricket, and we look forward to seeing him in a Leicestershire shirt shortly."