Kent have signed Azhar Mahmood, the former Pakistan allrounder, on a two-year deal. Mahmood has applied for British citizenship and is expected to hear confirmation in the near future meaning he will be an English-qualified player.

Mahmood has previously had successful stints with Surrey, but is excited by the opportunity presented to him at Kent. "This is a big move for me in more ways than one," he said. "I look back on my days with Surrey with great fondness, but the opportunity to utilise my British passport and join a county such as Kent is one that will provide a fresh challenge for me and it's something I'm really looking forward to.

"Kent has always been a county that I have respected and will now become my cricketing home. I will be giving it my all, on and off the field. Robert Key and Graham Ford have plans for the club and I want to work with them and the rest of the squad in building on 2007's success."

Key, the captain, said that Mahmood will add to the depth in Kent's squad as they aim to build on their Twenty20 success from last season. "We are thrilled to have secured Azhar's services. He is a proven cricketer of the highest level and will bring a vast amount of experience to our squad. He has been successful in all forms of cricket and, in our recent discussions with him, has shown a real desire to bring further success to Kent."