Shakib snapped up by Leicestershire

Shakib Al Hasan has been roped in by Leicestershire for their Friends Life T20 competition this season. The young and inexperienced squad are expected to struggle in Division two of the County championships and they will need the addition of some star players to boost their chances. However, Leicestershire have shown that they have T20 pedigree, having won the Friends Life T20 competition in 2011 and making it to the qualifying stages of the T20 Cricket League.

Shakib has been named the No 1 all-rounder in the ODI rankings and is also 2nd in the Test match list. He has been out of cricket since November last year with a stress fracture on his shin but he is confident that he will be fit for Bangladesh's forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe.

He will play alongside Joe Burns, the Australia A batsman, during a tournament which Leicestershire will hope to put in a performance which keeps the fans happy. The coach of the Leicestershire cricket team, Phil Whitticase has said that the team was really pleased to sign on the world's best all-rounder in Tests and ODIs. He pointed out that Shakib has an exceptional record and he hopes that Shakib will contribute in the team's success. Reiterating Mr. Whitticase's statement, Chief Executive Mike Siddall stated, "We are glad to have the services of Shakib who brings in experience and calibre. He has an excellent record and we are looking forward to his wonderful play." Joshua Cobb, who was Shakib's team-mate in the Dhaka Gladiators outfit, will also be in the team.