Just a day after agreeing a new deal with Kent, all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has agreed to play in New Zealand this winter.

The 36 year old all-rounder will be playing for defending HRV Cup champions Auckland alongside Andre Adams.

Mahmood has been brought in by the Aces due to his ability to clear the fences with regularity with the bat as well as his cunning right-arm medium pace.

He has been a hit at Kent in 2011, scoring 485 runs at 40.41 in the Twenty20 competition including a rare unbeaten hundred and also taking 14 wickets.

He also brings the experience of 21 Tests, 143 ODIs and several years of experience as an overseas player in England.

“We’re delighted to get Azhar and I think he’ll be great for us,” Aces coach Paul Strang said. “He will bring a real balance to the side with his all-round game I think, something that will be very useful in Twenty20 cricket.

“With a batting line-up that still has a lot of young players in it his experience will be very valuable for us.

“He’s an explosive player capable of doing some special things with the bat and we’re hoping that he can add to the environment we’ve already created.”

Unlike Adams, who is with Auckland in all three formats, Mahmood has been signed purely with the HRV Cup in mind.

However, he may turn out in the last round of the newly-named Ford Trophy one-day competition before the Twenty20s kick in on December 18 if things work to plan.

Auckland are the first side to publicly announce both their overseas signings for the HRV Cup.

Fellow Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens is also looking to play in the Twenty 20 cup in New Zealand, however he has ruled out a return to the Otago Volts who he played for last winter.

Picture supplied by Sarah Ansell. To see more of Sarah’s photos visit www.sarahcanterbury.com