Hanuma Vihari joins Warwickshire for County Championship

Warwickshire signed Hanuma Vihari as cover for Pieter Malan of South Africa.

By Jatin Sharma - 08 Apr, 2021

India’s middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari scored a stint with England county team Warwickshire for the County Championships, helping him get valuable time in English conditions ahead of the Indian tour of England in June this year.

Vihari, who is arriving in the UK today, will have to undergo six days of quarantine and is likely to play in the next week's game against Nottinghamshire, subject to the cricketer returning negative in the COVID tests, the club confirmed on Thursday (April 8).

Vihari was signed up by Warwickshire as cover for Pieter Malan after the South African faced difficulties in obtaining a visa, with South Africa falling under the category of "red list" country as per the UK government, with Warwickshire awaiting clarity over Malan's availability.

"We're also very grateful to Hanuma for stepping in at such short notice to cover Pieter Malan whilst we await confirmation of visa and his safe entry to the UK from South Africa," said Paul Farbrace, Warwickshire's Director of Cricket.  

"He's a high-quality batsman, and an effective off-spinner, who has been part of two India Test series victories in Australia. But he also comes to Warwickshire with an outstanding record in the First Class game and our young batsmen are going to learn a huge amount from playing and training with someone of Hanuma's calibre," added Farbrace.

Speaking about his stint with the county, Vihari said: "I'm looking forward to this opportunity and to play for a big club like Warwickshire is really exciting."

(Cricbuzz inputs)

By Jatin Sharma - 08 Apr, 2021

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