Leicestershire bring in Umar Amin to boost promotion push

Amin is available for all four of Leicestershire's red-ball matches in September but, as reported by The Cricketer on Tuesday, will not be eligible to feature in the One-Day Cup final

Nick Friend | 31/08/2023 at 16:54

Leicestershire have signed former Pakistan batter Umar Amin to boost their County Championship promotion hopes.

Amin, 33, replaces Peter Handscomb, who returned to Australia after playing a key role in the club's One-Day Cup semi-final win over Gloucestershire.

Handscomb, who made an unbeaten 49 to guide Leicestershire to their first List A final in 22 years, has gone home to prepare for the Australian domestic season with Victoria.

Amin, who is 230 runs short of 20,000 in his professional career, played four Tests in 2010 and last represented Pakistan in 2018. He has spent the summer in England, averaging more than 50 in the Nottinghamshire Premier League with Cavaliers and Carrington CC.

Leicestershire director of cricket Claude Henderson said: "We are really excited to welcome Umar to Leicestershire. He will bring a wealth of experience to our changing room, as well as our batting lineup, and will provide the ideal balance to the team at a crucial stage of the season."

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^{Peter Handscomb has returned home to Australia (Getty Images)}

Amin is available for all four of Leicestershire's red-ball matches in September but, as reported by The Cricketer on Tuesday, will not be eligible to feature in the One-Day Cup final.

Playing conditions for the tournament specify that only domestic players fully contracted to their county are able to bypass the group stage.

That means both Rehan Ahmed and Callum Parkinson could feature at Trent Bridge on September 16 against Hampshire, but no newly-signed overseas or loan players are permitted.