ISLAMABAD (March 10 2010): The Hampshire Hawks, England's current T20 champions, have inked a deal with veteran Pakistani 30- year old all-rounder Abdul Razzaq as they prepare to defend their title in the Friends Provident Trophy in June. Razzaq would be joining his Pakistan team-mate Shahid Afridi in the English county squad.

"Shahid and I are good friends and it will be great to have him around this summer with me. I'm sure it will be ideal preparation for us both before we join the Pakistan squad for the series against England and Australia," Razzaq said. Razzaq had earlier played at English county level for Middlesex, Worcestershire and Surrey, and is excited to be a part of the Hampshire team and play along Afridi.

"I can't wait to put the Hampshire shirt on and do well for them. I'm really excited at being given this opportunity by such a high profile team and hopefully Shahid and I can help Hampshire to the title," cricket.yahoo.com quoted Razzaq, as saying. Razzaq, who has a strike rate of just under 150 in T20 cricket, said their stints with Hampshire would offer a good opportunity to warm-up before the hectic series against England and Australia later in the year.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2010