New Delhi, March 30: Hampshire has signed South African fast bowler Cody Yusuf for the upcoming County Championship matches. He replaces Jayden Seales, who was unable to join the team due to the denial of a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from his home board.
Initially, Hampshire hoped to include Seales in their squad, especially since they could not secure Michael Neser’s services. Neser’s contract was canceled at the direction of Cricket Australia, as he was re-included in the list of centrally contracted players.
Cody Yusuf will join Hampshire under the guidance of new head coach Russell Domingo, who also coaches Yusuf’s domestic franchise, the Lions. In the SA20 league, Yusuf plays for the Pretoria Capitals, owned by Hampshire’s largest shareholder, GMR Group.
Hampshire’s cricket director, Giles White, expressed, “It is disappointing not to have Jayden with us, but we are pleased to have found an excellent alternative in Cody Yusuf. Russell recommended Cody, who has valuable experience in international cricket. His time playing with Durham last season has given him good knowledge of conditions in England.”
He added, “The past few weeks have been quite frustrating for us. We had to adjust our plans in a short time, but we are very happy to welcome Cody and eagerly await his arrival.”
The 27-year-old Cody Yusuf has played two Test matches and one ODI for South Africa. Last season, he participated in all formats of the game for Durham in County cricket. In 42 first-class matches, he has taken 131 wickets at an average of 28.22, while in 35 List A matches, he has claimed 51 wickets at an average of 26.62.
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