Northamptonshire seal Sehwag for Twenty20

Northamptonshire have secured Virender Sehwag to head their Twenty20 challenge during the coming season. It's a major coup for the county who were beaten in the semi-finals in last year's competition.

Sehwag, 31, is currently ranked as the world's leading Test batsman. He has established himself as one of the most destructive players in the game but curiously, given his reputation, Sehwag's Twenty20 international record is a relatively modest average of 24.07 although his strike-rate is 153.43.

Having played county cricket for Leicestershire in 2003, Sehwag has experience of English conditions and Mark Tagg, the Northamptonshire chief executive, believes Sehwag's signing could lift Northamptonshire to the top of the domestic game.

"This is absolutely fantastic news for the club and shows everyone that we want to continue our year on year improvement," he said. "Hopefully this shows our fans we are serious in our ambitions to become the best club in the country."

Sehwag is still awaiting clearance from the BCCI but said: "I am looking forward to the T20 campaign and I am delighted to have joined the county."

He is the latest big-name signing for the Twenty20 tournament with counties going around the world for star attractions. Tillakaratne Dilshan has joined Sussex, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq are with Hampshire, Herschelle Gibbs is heading to Yorkshire and Cameron White is due with Somerset.