Hampshire have signed Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram, replacing the banned Shane Warne as their second overseas player.

Wasim met with county officials in a London hotel today and agreed a one-year contract with the club.

For Hampshire it marks a satisfactory end to what was turning into a frustrating search for another overseas star alongside Australian batsman Simon Katich.

Warne was half-way through a two-year contract at the Rose Bowl when he was banned for a year after testing positive for a banned diuretic just before the World Cup in February.

Hampshire were subsequently linked with Wasim's compatriot Shoaib Akhtar but the move fell through because of the fast bowler's Test commitments.

Wasim, who enjoyed a successful county career with Lancashire from 1988 to 1998, has now flown out to the Caribbean island of St Lucia to play in a tournament but will join up with his new Hampshire team-mates on April 9.

With his experience, Wasim's name is also expected to go straight into the frame for the captaincy at the Rose Bowl alongside Will Kendall, Shaun Udal and John Crawley.

"I was impressed by the enthusiasm and ideas shown by Hampshire and am delighted to join such a progressive county," Wasim said.

"For me it is a fresh challenge and a new chapter in my career. The aim is for Hampshire to gain promotion in both competitions this year, and I hope to be able to play a part in that ambition."

The 36-year-old has played in 104 Test matches and 356 one-day international matches, and he became the first player to pass the 500-wicket mark in limited-overs internationals when Pakistan faced the Netherlands in the World Cup.

However, his international career did not end as he might have wished, with Pakistan failing to make the second round. Wasim was one of eight senior players to be dropped from squad for the forthcoming Sharjah Cup.

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