Navdeep Saini All Set To Play For Kent In Ongoing Season

After agreeing to a deal with Kent, fast bowler Navdeep Saini has become the most recent Indian talent to secure a contract to play county cricket. 

Saini, who competes in domestic cricket for Delhi and was a member of the Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2022 roster, last represented India on a tour of Sri Lanka a year ago. Depending on his visa and regulatory permission, he will participate in five Royal London Cup games and three County Championship games. 

Navdeep Saini Becomes Sixth Indian To Secure County Contract In 2022

He follows Cheteshwar Pujara (Sussex), Washington Sundar (Lancashire), Krunal Pandya (Warwickshire), and Umesh Yadav as the sixth Indian player to secure a county contract in 2022. (Middlesex). 

“It’s a great opportunity to play county cricket and I’m looking forward to giving my all for Kent,” Saini said. 

Saini is scheduled to play with New Zealand seamer Matt Henry, who is back to Kent for a second term after making an impression in 2018 and might make his debut against Warwickshire the following week. They also have South African all-rounder George Linde on their roster, but counties are only allowed to dress two foreign players in a starting lineup. 

With five games left in the season, Kent sits eighth in the 10-team Division One after their loss to Northamptonshire this week. Kent has struggled to collect Championship wickets all season owing to a combination of fitness, form, and flat grounds. 

Kent Director Of Cricket Paul Downton Excited To Have Navdeep Saini In The Squad

Their director of cricket, Paul Downton, decided to enter the transfer market as a result of their lack of success with the ball. 

“In a year when it’s been difficult to take wickets, we’re excited to have the opportunity to add a fast bowler of Navdeep’s quality to our squad,” Downton said. 

The Royal London Cup runs concurrently with the Hundred, and the ECB is miffed that no Indian players are participating in its new 100-ball competition. The BCCI forbids current players from competing in any foreign short-form tournaments, although Saini and other recent India internationals will participate in the second-string 50-over competition. 

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