London : Indian test team vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane who was ignored from the upcoming World Cup squad, has signed for Hampshire for the County Championship to be held in the months of May, June, and July.
Rahane would become first Indian to represent Hampshire. He will become the club’s overseas player and is expected to feature in eight Specsavers County Championship fixtures during the three months.
The right-handed batsman will be replacing South Africa’s Aiden Markram, who will end his stint with the county side after the conclusion of the Royal London One-Day Cup group stages to join the national side for the upcoming World Cup tournament.
“I am excited to be the first Indian to play for Hampshire, a county which has a glowing reputation. I hope to score runs and win as a team and would like to thank BCCI for granting me permission,” said Rahane.
“We’re delighted to attract a player of Ajinkya’s class and with both Aiden and Dimuth selected for the World Cup, we were obviously in the market for a top-order batsman. Ajinkya showed an interest early on and the way things have played out it’s a great opportunity to get him over – we’re really excited to have him with us,” said Giles White , director Of Cricket Hampshire.