Vaas to beef up Northants' campaign

Chaminda Vaas, the Sri Lankan seam bowler, has signed a contract with Northamptonshire and will turn out for the club until the end of the Friends Provident Twenty20 campaign. He is set to arrive in time for the fixture against Surrey starting on May 24.

Vaas, 36, is Sri Lanka's most successful new-ball exponent, and second most prolific bowler behind Muttiah Muralitharan, with 761 international wickets across all formats. In recent times, he has been ignored by the Sri Lankan selectors in their aim to build a team for the future, and Vaas last represented his country in July 2009.

Northants' head coach David Capel acknowledged this was a big signing for his side. "We have secured the services of a world-class performer with enormous experience in all formats of the game," Capel said.

"This is a major boost to our hopes of success and Chaminda is with us through this vital phase of the season. Having spoken to him, I know he is very enthusiastic about coming here and is geared up for this opportunity."

Vaas proved his worth during the third season of the IPL for Deccan Chargers, where he outshone younger and faster seam-bowling team-mates Kemar Roach and Ryan Harris. While Vaas is expected to be lethal with the ball, he is also more than handy with the bat, averaging 24.32 in Tests, with a century and 13 fifties.

Vaas' presence will bolster Northants' campaign, which has started off inconsistently in the County Championship, and with defeats in three out of four Clydesdale Bank 40 games. The side has also been dogged by off-field problems, with Virender Sehwag unable to join as planned after being barred by the BCCI, and Nicky Boje stepping down as captain earlier this week. Vaas will enhance the team's all-round credentials, alongside Boje, new captain Andrew Hall and Zimbabwe's Elton Chigumbura.