Leicestershire return for Umar Akmal and Kevin O'Brien
Thursday 17 September 2015 10:43, UK
Leicestershire have announced big-hitting international duo Umar Akmal and Kevin O'Brien will return to Grace Road during the 2016 season.
Akmal is rejoining as the Foxes' second overseas player for NatWest T20 Blast while O'Brien will be available for both the NatWest T20 Blast and Royal London One Day Cup.
"We saw the positive influence that Umar and Kevin had during their time at the club this year," said Leicestershire CEO's Wasim Khan:
"They are exciting cricketers to watch, have experience at the highest level, and are both match-winners with their clean, powerful striking of the ball.
"They showed their ability by both having an immediate impact with Kevin batting beautifully in his first game at Lancashire and Umar playing our best innings of the tournament at Nottinghamshire on debut. I know our members and supporters enjoyed watching them play and we are excited to welcome both players back to Grace Road."
The 25-year-old Akmal played match-winning innings at both Nottinghamshire Outlaws and Birmingham Bears during his first spell at the club.
His 76 not out at Trent Bridge came off just 49 balls and the Pakistan international's measured unbeaten half-century in a fine partnership with Niall O'Brien steered the ship home at Edgbaston.
Akmal scored 133 runs at a strike rate of over 143 in NatWest T20 Blast in being dismissed only once and also made his Leicestershire debuts in first-class cricket at Lancashire and in the List A format against the touring New Zealanders.
The talented batsman/wicket-keeper has scored 5,259 runs for Pakistan in all three formats of the game and has a career T20 strike rate approaching 130.
O'Brien has played in 143 T20 games in his career, scoring 2,283 runs at a strike rate of 132.80 that has been maintained over 127 innings. Also a useful medium-fast bowler, O'Brien needs just 15 wickets to move to the 100 mark in T20 and his economy rate is an impressive 7.25.
The 31-year-old all-rounder is also vastly experienced for his country having represented Ireland 91 times in ODIs and making 45 appearances in T20Is. All told, O'Brien has scored 2,817 runs and has claimed 111 wickets in international matches.
The Foxes will have plenty of know-how in white ball cricket with Akmal and O'Brien joined by recent signings Wayne White, Neil Dexter and Paul Horton as well as captain Mark Cosgrove, overseas bowler Clint McKay and Kevin's brother Niall.
