Warwickshire have signed Indian international Mohammad Siraj for the final stages of the county season, the club have announced. Siraj is currently on tour in Zimbabwe. After the ODI series, which ends on August 22, Siraj will arrive at Edgbaston on September 12 for the match against Somerset.
“I have always enjoyed playing in England with India and I am excited to experience county cricket,” Siraj said. “Edgbaston is a world-class stadium and the atmosphere it created for the Test this year was special. I hope to make it my home in September and help end the season well. I would like to express my gratitude to Warwickshire County Cricket Club and BCCI for this opportunity,” Siraj noted.
Siraj is the sixth Indian player to play in the England domestic season. Cheteshwar Pujara is having a great season for Sussex while Umesh Yadav and Navdeep Saini are playing for Middlesex and Kent respectively. Washington Sundar, a part of the Lancashire squad, was ruled out of the Zimbabwe series after suffering a shoulder injury in the recent Royal London ODI Cup. Krunal Pandya also represents Warwickshire
The 28-year-old Siraj, who has played 52 first-class matches, has taken 194 wickets, including five five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls. Siraj took four wickets in the first innings of the postponed fifth Test against England
Speaking about Siraj’s inclusion, Warwickshire Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace said: ” He is one of the best fast bowlers in the world at the moment. Experience will help bring an extra dimension to our line-up. It is clear that we need to strengthen our bowling attack in the crucial period and I am excited to see what Siraj can do in these three games.”
Warwickshire are currently eighth in the County Championship Division One table with just one win from 11 matches. After their match against Somerset, they will face Gloucestershire and Hampshire,