Mohammad Amir signs up with Gloucestershire for red-ball cricket.

ISLAMABAD -- Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir is returning to the red-ball cricket as he has signed a short-term deal with Gloucestershire to play three matches in the ongoing County Championship.

The 30-year-old will replace young Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah, who suffered a shoulder injury, website www.crictracker.com reported on Friday.

Naseem has been ruled out until the start of the T20 Blast. Amir reached England on Thursday and joined the squad in Manchester. The left-arm pacer last played a red-ball game in August 2019 for Essex. Since then, he has preferred playing mostly in the leagues across the world having retired from international format already.

Gloucestershire's performance director Steve Snell was delighted to sign a quality

bowler like Mohammad Amir for the side. He felt that the left-arm pacer's international experience will certainly help Gloucestershire and would be a great addition to the squad. At the same time, the County side will also assist injured Naseem Shah in regaining his full fitness to make sure he is available for the T20 Blast.

'We are delighted to have signed a bowler of Amir's caliber. We will sadly be without Naseem for a few weeks due to injury...