THE Pakistan connection with Bellerive Oval is set to continue with Cricket Tasmania yesterday announcing paceman Rana Naved- ul-Hasan as its international signing for the Twenty20 Big Bash.
Rana, 31, has played nine Tests for Pakistan, taking 18 wickets at an average of 58, 69 one- day internationals, collecting 104 wickets at 28.18 and three Twenty20 internationals, taking four wickets at 18.
He also averages 19.91 with the bat in Tests and 15.44 in one- day internationals.
Overall in Twenty20 cricket, Rana has played 37 matches and collected 38 wickets at 22.08 at an economy rate of 6.67, while averaging 22.92 with the bat, at a strike-rate of 145.24.
Rana played his last Test in 2007, but has played limited-overs cricket for his country this year.
He is Tasmania's third attempt at attracting international talent after earlier signings Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga and English all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas both withdrew due to injury.
Rana joins West Indian stars Chris Gayle (Western Australia), Dwayne Bravo (Victoria), Kieron Pollard (South Australia) and Dwayne Smith (NSW), Rana's Pakistan teammate Sahid Afridi (South Australia) and New Zealanders Daniel Vettori (Queensland) and Ross Taylor (Victoria) as international names in the Big Bash competition.
Rana's signing will continue the Pakistan feel to Tasmanian cricket following the Tigers' tour game against the country this month and the third Test between Australia and Pakistan at Bellerive Oval in January.
Tasmania's first Twenty20 Big Bash match is against NSW at Bellerive Oval on Wednesday.
Tasmania's selectors yesterday named a 17-man squad for the Tigers' first two home games against NSW and WA.
SQUAD: George Bailey (c), Travis Birt, Luke Butterworth, Ed Cowan, Gerard Denton, Michael Dighton, Xavier Doherty, Alex Doolan, Brendan Drew, James Faulkner, Brett Geeves, Jason Krejza, Rhett Lockyear, Tim Paine, John Roger, Jeremy Smith, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.
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