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The Brisbane Heat have signed Fakhar Zaman, but the star Pakistan batsman will miss a host of games due to Queensland's border rules.
The Brisbane Heat have signed star Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman for a three-match BBL cameo as a replacement for England's Tom Abell.
Abell has returned home to the UK after damaging the lateral ligament in his knee while attempting to take a catch in the Heat's loss to the Sydney Thunder earlier this month.
The Heat hoped Abell could return in as little as two weeks, but the injury has turned out to be more serious.
Brisbane have turned to Zaman to fill the void, but quarantine requirements mean he will be unable to play in Queensland for 14 days.
His first game for the Heat has been pencilled in against the Melbourne Renegades in Geelong on January 6.
He is also set to suit up for the club's clash with the Stars in Melbourne on January 16, and the showdown with the Scorchers at the Gabba on January 19, by which time he will be allowed to play in Queensland.
"It's great to have a player of his class available for us at relatively short notice," Heat coach Wade Seccombe said.
"We're naturally disappointed to lose Tom though and wish him a speedy recovery back home in England,.
"Fakhar will join us in Melbourne ahead of the game against the Renegades. Due to Queensland's current border restrictions, he will need to spend 14 days outside of the state before he can play in Queensland.
"We are pleased he will be with us for what are shaping as key games."
"He is a classy performer who gets the job done in the teams he has played for so we are confident he can settle in quickly."
A left-handed batter, Zaman has played 64 T20 Internationals, 53 ODIs and three Tests.
In 2018, he became the first Pakistan batter to score a double century in an ODI and in the same tournament against Zimbabwe, eclipsed the record of Sir Viv Richards to reach 1000 runs in ODIs in the fewest innings.
Playing against South Africa in the second ODI last year, Fakhar scored 193 which was the highest individual score while chasing in an ODI, surpassing the 185 scored by Shane Watson against Bangladesh.
His average in ODIs is 47.44.
The fifth-placed Heat (2-5) are in Hobart preparing for Saturday's clash with the third-placed Hobart Hurricanes (4-3).
