Yasir Arafat has signed for Otago.
That is Yasir Arafat, the Pakistan cricketer, not Yasser Arafat, the late former leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
The bowling all-rounder has replaced big-hitting England international Dimitri Mascarenhas as the overseas player this season.
Arguably, Arafat (27) is not as high-profile as Mascarenhas.
And with three tests, 11 one-day internationals and five twenty/20 internationals behind him, he is still making his way in international cricket.
But he is an accomplished and experienced first-class cricketer with 628 wickets at an average of 24.04 and more than 5000 runs at a shade over 27.
It is a very good record and one which should set him up for a successful season for Otago.
He is not a dissimilar player to Mascarenhas and will be asked to perform the same role.
That means bowling during the powerplays and at the death, and coming in down the order and trying to find the boundary.
Arafat is best described as a skiddy, right-arm medium-pacer with a slingy action.
"He is very much a limited-overs expert," Otago coach Hesson said.
"He's played a lot of cricket for Sussex and Kent . . . and he's able to swing the new ball and reverse the old one. He is also a very good exponent of bowling at the death. In terms of what our skill mix is, he fits in nicely."
Arafat has a test half century to his name and four first-class centuries and will bat in the middle order, probably at No 7.
"It just depends on the form he is in when he arrives and the form of other people around him. That will determine where he bats.
"But he is a good bowler and a more than useful batsman. I'm certainly expecting big things from him."
Hesson hinted there had been many overseas players keen to play for Otago this summer but Arafat was the "exact" type of player the Volts had been seeking.
Arafat will arrive in New Zealand with the Pakistan test squad midway through November and will miss Otago's opening one-day match against Wellington on December 8.
"We've been interested in him for a while and since we've picked him up he's been named in the test squad. But that fits in quite nicely."
Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes said the intention was Arafat would be available for the twenty/20 tournament in January and would remain with the Volts until the end of the one-day competition on February 21.
"The Pakistan cricket board has given him the green light unless he is required for international duty. You accept that with any player."
• New Zealand Cricket has not made a decision on whether Molyneux Park will be given clearance to host Otago's two one-day matches in December.
NZC turf manager Jared Carter is still preparing a report on the pitch, which was deemed below standard following a one-day game at the venue last season.
