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India's star pacer Umesh Yadav has been roped in by Middlesex for the rest of the 2022 domestic season, the club announced on Monday (July 11).
The 34-year-old replaces Shaheen Shah Afridi, who left Middlesex earlier this year to play for Pakistan.
Middlesex said that the announcement of the 34-year-old's signing was delayed as confirmation of his visa was awaited among other formalities. Umesh will be available for the County Championship as well as the One-Day Cup.
Umesh will be carrying his expertise and experience to the English club as he has featured in 52 Tests, 77 ODIs and seven T20I matches since his debut in 2010. The 34-year-old has 273 wickets across all formats for his country, including a ten-wicket match in Test cricket.
He was also part of the India's Test squad in the just concluded rescheduled match against England at Edgbaston but didn't get chance to play in the playing XI.
"It was always our intention to have an overseas international bowler with us throughout the duration of the season, and since Shaheen returned to Pakistan prior to the start of our Blast campaign we've been looking for the right player to replace him," said Alan Coleman, Head of Men's Performance Cricket at Middlesex.
"Yadav is that man. He comes to us with a wealth of experience, he is a proven world-class performer, and can not only make a huge difference himself for the remainder of our Championship campaign and to our prospects in the Royal London Cup but will also be a fantastic role model for our younger bowlers to work alongside.
"As a bowler he offers a huge amount. He delivers the ball from wide of the crease, can move the ball both ways, regularly tops 140 kph, and possesses a vicious short ball, so will be a real handful for opposition batters in English conditions.
"We are delighted to welcome Umesh to Middlesex and wish him every success during his stay with the Club."
Krunal Pandya and Washington Sundar will also be playing for Warwickshire and Lancashire club respectively.
