Hashim Amla to play for Hampshire in 2018 English season

English cricket county championship presents a great opportunity for the English players to keep themselves under the nose of selectors through their consistent performances. It also helps overseas players as they get a chance to learn and understand the conditions away from home. In an English county side, two overseas players are allowed.

On Wednesday, Hampshire announced that South Africa great Hashim Amla will be featuring for the side in 2018 county season for them. As per the county, Amla will be with the county for the initial three months of the season. After a series against India, the right-hander is currently set to play the first Test against Australia which starts later in the day.

In the recently concluded Test series against India, Amla managed 3 half-centuries in as many games helping the side clinch the series 2-1. The limited over series saw India fightback with a 5-1 win over the hosts where Amla could manage to cross the 50-run mark only once in 6 outings.

Amla had been involved with the English county on numerous occasions. Last time he had joined Surrey as an overseas player. For this season, Amala will play for Hampshire in the first-class County Championship and the 50-over One-Day Cup.

Will join countrymen, Rillie Rossow and Kyle Abbott,

Kyle Abbott and Rilee Rossouw had quit their South Africa international career for financial security and had joined the county earlier where they will now have a familiar face of Amla in the side.

The 34-year-old batsman was pleased to join the club and said that he was hoping to play some high-quality cricket before Proteas go to the Island nation Sri Lanka for a full tour. “I am really pleased to be joining a club like Hampshire. Everyone I have spoken to, who have either played or are currently playing there, have only had good things to say about the team,” Amla said.

“I look forward to spending the first three months of the season with them, which works out well for me to be able to get some high-quality cricket in before the Proteas tour to Sri Lanka in July,” he added.

Interestingly, as per reports, Morne Morkel also is set to decide his fate as a South African bowler after the series against Australia. According to reports, Morkel will sign the Kolapk deal in order to keep himself financially sound. Former South Africa pacer Allan Donald pleaded the bowler not to sign the deal, instead reconsider his decision.

South African cricket has seen a number of players which includes David Wiese, Kyle Abbott, Rilee Rossouw, Colin Ingram, Stiaan van Zyl, Simon Harmer, Dane Vilas and Hardus Viljoen sign the Kolpak deal.