Mir Hamza arrives for two-match stint at Warwickshire following visa delay

The Pakistani arrived in the UK on Friday and trained with his new teammates on Monday. Warwickshire had hoped to bring the 30-year-old left-armer into the squad earlier in July, as a replacement for Hassan Ali who is away on international duty

Warwickshire have bolstered their seam attack with the signing of Mir Hamza on a short-term deal.

Hamza will be available for the Bears in two County Championship matches - against Lancashire and Middlesex.

The Pakistani arrived in the UK on Friday and trained with his new teammates on Monday.

^{Mir Hamza has joined Warwickshire [Getty Images]}

Warwickshire had hoped to bring the 30-year-old left-armer into the squad earlier in July, as a replacement for Hassan Ali who is away on international duty.

However, his arrival was delayed by visa issues.

Nevertheless, Hamza is a useful addition at a time when Warwickshire are operating without a pair of key quicks in Liam Norwell and Craig Miles, and pushing for the County Championship title.

^{Hamza arrives for a two-match stint in red-ball ricket [Getty Images]}

They sit second with six matches of the season remaining, just 13 points behind leaders Surrey.

"Hamza will give us another dimension to our bowling unit as a left-armer," said Warwicksire head coach Mark Robinson. "We're slightly stretched at the minute, and although Craig Miles and Liam Norwell are on the comeback trail, we'll be light in the seam department if anything happens to our currently fit bowlers.

"Having played Test cricket, Hamza will bring a lot of experience to the group, as well as a point of difference which we miss with Hassan's departure. He played alongside Burgy [Michael Burgess] and Briggsy [Danny Briggs] at Sussex, who along with Hassan, have all spoke about him being a very skilful bowler."

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