Shah to play Twenty20 in New Zealand

Wellington:

England batsman Owais Shah will play for Wellington province in New Zealand's domestic Twenty20 cricket competition in December.

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who played with Shah at Middlesex, led the bid to sign Shah, 30, who is a current member of England's Twenty20 squad.

"In my mind he is one of the better international Twenty20 batsmen in the world and is a player who has an excellent grasp of the batting strategy required," Fleming said Tuesday. "He certainly has the ability to make a huge impact on (Wellington's) Twenty20 season."

Pakistan-born Shah is the second top international player to join a New Zealand provincial side for the domestic Twenty20 series. Sri Lankan star Tillerkaratne Dilshan earlier signed a short-term deal with Northern Districts.

Shah has played 17 Twenty20 internationals for England, scoring 347 runs at an average of 24.78.