Daily Times

Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Afghanistan’s teenage spinner, has been signed by Middlesex for this season’s Vitality Blast campaign. Mujeeb, 17, is the first signing made by Stuart Law, Middlesex’s new coach, since he arrived at Lord’s in January, and comes in the wake of his impressive displays for Brisbane Heat in this season’s Big Bash in Australia, where he has picked up 12 wickets with a best of 3 for 16. He has so far claimed 54 international wickets in all formats, having made his Afghanistan debut at the age of 16, and in February last year he became the youngest bowler in ODI history to claim a five-wicket haul, against Zimbabwe in Sharjah.

In the course of his international baptism, Mujeeb has formed a burgeoning spin partnership with his team-mate Rashid Khan, and in T20Is, his economy rate in is an impressive 5.07. “It is with great pleasure to say that Mujeeb has agreed to play for Middlesex in the Vitality Blast,” said Law. “His unique style of spin has proven to be difficult to play against and his record is outstanding in this format.

“I’m sure the staff and players at Middlesex are looking forward to working with him this season.” Mujeeb will be available for the entire Vitality Blast campaign, and will join up with the Middlesex squad in early July to prepare for the tournament. “I’m very pleased to sign for Middlesex for the Vitality Blast and it will be very exciting to play at Lord’s again,” said Mujeeb. “I hope we can be successful as a team.”

Published in Daily Times, February 12^th 2019.