Mir Hamza to join Sussex for nine matches

Pakistan left-arm seamer, Mir Hamza will join Sussex Cricket for nine first-class matches in 2019.

Hamza will be available for eight Specsavers County Championship matches, starting with the away fixture against Northamptonshire that begins on Monday 20th May and finishing with the match against Lancashire at Old Trafford that starts on Saturday 13th July.

The Karachiite’s stint on the South Coast will take in four of Sussex’s home fixtures in the competition, three at The 1st Central County Ground and the match against Gloucestershire at Arundel Castle in mid-June.

The 26-year-old will also be available for the tour match against Australia A at Arundel between Sunday 7th July and Wednesday 10th July.

Looking ahead to his time with Sussex, Hamza said: “I’m very excited to have the chance to play county cricket with a great club like Sussex, following in the footsteps of Pakistan legends like Javed Miandad and Imran Khan.

“I hope I can make a good contribution towards some victories. And on a personal level I am looking forward to working with – and learning from – Jason Gillespie.”

Sussex head coach, Gillespie added: “We’re looking forward to welcoming Mir Hamza to Sussex.

“He’s a left-arm swing bowler who has performed well when opportunities have been there for him for his country. He will add to the depth our seam bowling unit at the club. He will no doubt have a positive impact.”

Hamza made his Test debut for Pakistan in their crushing 373-run win against Australia in Abu Dhabi earlier this winter. He caught the eye with his dismissal of Shaun Marsh via a fine seaming delivery that knocked the opener’s off-stump out of the ground.

Ripper from Mir Hamza! @shaunmarsh9 is beaten by one that's pitched up and just does enough to beat the outside edge. Australia 10-1

Ball-by-ball clips & live blog: https://t.co/nLj9tc724n#PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/md7gwA8lIl

— Cricingif (@_cricingif) October 18, 2018

In ten first-class matches for Pakistan A, Hamza has taken 25 wickets, including a best of 4-53 against Yorkshire at Headingley the tour of England in 2016. Later in the same tour, he took 4-62 against Sri Lanka A at New Road.

England supporters may also remember Hamza’s performance for Pakistan A in a two-day match against an England XI in October 2015 when he picked up the wickets of Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, Johnny Bairstow and Moeen Ali on his way to figures of 4-34.

In total, the Karachi Dolphins player has taken 282 wickets in 59 first-class matches at an average of 18.34.

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