Cockermouth have recruited an overseas amateur for the 2022 Cumbria League season which starts on Saturday.
The Sandair club had been disappointed when they had to give back word on their signed professional, Pakistani international Usman Salahuddin.
The deal was scrubbed as a result of failure to meet an ECB deadline which cost them their ClubMark, and as a consequence couldn’t hire a professional.
But they have announced the signing of Asad Afridi, a 34-year-old amateur who is a middle-order batsman and leg-break bowler.
Last season he played with Knypersley in the North Staffs and South Cheshire League where he picked up 58 wickets at 10.02.
He also made one century in a run total of 415, with an average of 24.41.
Knypersley captain Hopkins said: “Asad worked really well for us last year and we wanted to go for that type of player again.”
Back in February, however, visa problems meant that the club, who finished third in Division One, couldn’t complete a deal and instead recruited another Pakistani in Usami Mir.
He actually made his Knypersley debut on Saturday, taking a wicket and being unbeaten on 19 in a seven-wicket win to get their league season rolling.
Cockermouth open their season on Saturday at home to Carlisle and Afridi will be in the line-up as he arrives in the UK today.
