Summary Ronchi replaces Sharjeel as one of Leicestershire's overseas players in English county T20 Blast.
LONDON (AFP) - New Zealand s Luke Ronchi is to replace Sharjeel Khan as one of Leicestershire s overseas players in English county cricket s Twenty20 Blast following the Pakistan batsman s domestic suspension for match-fixing, it emerged Wednesday.
Both Sharjeel and Khalid Latif were suspended and then charged last month by the Pakistan Cricket Board after being accused of meeting a suspicious person linked to an international betting syndicate during the Twenty20 Pakistan Super League tournament.
Last year, Sharjeel struck a blistering 59 as he and Latif shared a century stand during Pakistan s crushing nine-wicket win over England in a Twenty20 international at Old Trafford.
But with Sharjeel s cricket future uncertain while a tribunal considers his case, Leicestershire will look to wicket-keeper/batsman Ronchi, who has a strike rate of 141.33 in 32 Twenty20 internationals to provide similar fireworks.
"The contractual status of Sharjeel Khan is a private matter between Leicestershire CCC and the player, and so unfortunately it is not something that we are able to comment on at this stage," said a club statement.
Meanwhile Ronchi, 35, told the club s website: "I am delighted to have signed with Leicestershire Foxes for the NatWest T20 Blast.
"I love playing county cricket and can t wait to get started with my new team-mates," added Ronchi, who has previously played for Somerset and Birmingham (Warwickshire) and featured in every match of New Zealand s run to the 2015 World Cup final.
Meanwhile it was also announced that Ronchi s fellow New Zealand international Matt Henry will play in the Blast for Leicestershire s Midlands rivals Derbyshire.
The 25-year-old fast bowler appeared in county cricket for Worcestershire last year.
Henry, a veteran of six Twenty20 and 30 one-day internationals, will work alongside former Derbyshire and New Zealand batsman John Wright, whom the Midlands club have appointed as the first specialist Twenty20 coach in county cricket.
