The Melbourne Renegades have signed Afghanistan international Mohammad Nabi and West Indian Kieron Pollard as overseas players for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season.
The duo have come into the Renegades’ squad after spinner Sunil Narine, who was the side’s top wicket-taker last season, pulled out of BBL citing personal reasons.
Nabi will play the first seven games of the tournament and will then be replaced by Pollard for the final three league games and possible play-offs.
An off-spinner capable of big hits with the bat, Nabi is the second Afghanistan player to be signed by a BBL franchise this year after leg-spinner Rashid Khan was snapped up by the Adelaide Strikers.
Pollard is a seasoned campaigner in T20 tournaments around the world and it will be his fifth stint in the BBL after he spent four seasons with the Strikers.
Renegades coach Andrew McDonald said on the team’s website: “We wish Sunil all the best. At short notice we are pleased that we’ve been able to secure players of Mohammad and Kieron’s quality who will be important contributors this season for us.”
The Melbourne side’s captain Aaron Finch said of Nabi: “Everyone speaks very highly of his game. (He) can smack them with the bat, so good all-round package.”
Dwayne Bravo is the Renegades other overseas player in the squad with the allrounder expected to be available for the entire season.
