Hashim Amla joins Hampshire

Hampshire have announced the signing of South Africa batsman Hashim Amla as an overseas player for the first three months of the English County season.

The 34-year-old, who has had several previous county stints with Essex, Nottinghamshire, Surrey and Derbyshire, and will be available for the County Championship and the One-Day competition.

The prolific Proteas star will join compatriots Kyle Abbott and Rilee Rossouw before returning to country's duty for their Test series against Sri Lanka in July.

Hampshire’s Director of Cricket Giles White, said: ‘Hashim is an exciting acquisition for us and we feel he’ll be an excellent fit within the group we’ve got, both on and off the pitch.

‘He will add strength and depth to our batting for the first three months of the season when runs on the board are important. Hopefully, this will help us achieve that consistently in both the four-day and 50-over competitions.’

Amla has scored more than 16,000 runs at an average of 49.61 across Tests and ODIs.

Derbyshire sign Duanne Olivier as overseas player

South African fast-bowler Duanne Olivier has been signed by Derbyshire as an overseas player for the first half of the 2018 season.

The 25-year-old, who has played five Tests for the Proteas, will be available for the first seven Specsavers County Championship matches and the entire Derbyshire's Royal London One-Day Cup campaign, subject to clearance from Cricket South Africa.

"We identified new-ball bowling as an area we wanted to strengthen, especially for the first half of the season in red- and white-ball cricket. He is a tall, quick bowler who is keen to prove himself and he will give us another quality option with the ball. He comes highly recommended and will offer further depth to our seam attack," Cricket Advisor, Kim Barnett said.

Olivier, who made his international debut last year, has claimed 17 Test wickets at an average of 23.

Indian Premier League 2018 schedule

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council have announced the schedule for the forthcoming season. The opening match of IPL 11 will be played on April 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Mumbai Indians to host Chennai Super Kings in the opening match at the Wankhede Stadium on April 7.

IPL 2018 schedule

Match 1 -Saturday, April 7, 2018
Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings

20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Match 2 – Sunday, 8th April, 2018
Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab

16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi

Match 3 – Sunday, 8th April, 2018
Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bangalore

20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Match 4 – Monday, 9th April 2018
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals

20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

Match 5 – Tuesday, 10th April 2018
Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders

20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Wednesday 11th April 2018

Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Daredevils

Match 6, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | Thursday 12th April 2018

Sunrisers Hyderabad v Mumbai Indians

Match 7, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad | Friday 13th April 2018

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kings XI Punjab

Match 8, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | Saturday 14th April 2018

Mumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils

Match 9, 16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Match 10, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Sunday 15th April 2018

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Rajasthan Royals

Match 11, 16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings

Match 12, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore | Monday 16th April 2018

Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils

Match 13, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Tuesday 17th April 2018

Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Match 14, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Wednesday 18th April 2018

Rajasthan Royals v Kolkata Knight Riders

Match 15, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | Thursday 19th April 2018

Kings XI Punjab v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Match 16, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore | Friday 20th April 2018

Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals

Match 17, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Saturday 21st April 2018

Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab

Match 18, 16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Delhi Daredevils v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Match 19, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi | Sunday 22nd April 2018

Sunrisers Hyderabad v Chennai Super Kings

Match 20, 16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians

Match 21, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | Monday 23rd April 2018

Kings XI Punjab v Delhi Daredevils

Match 22, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore | Tuesday 24th April 2018

Mumbai Indians v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Match 23, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Wednesday 25th April 2018

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Chennai Super Kings

Match 24, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | Thursday 26th April 2018

Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab

Match 25, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad | Friday 27th April 2018

Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders

Match 26, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi | Saturday 28th April 2018

Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians

Match 27, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Sunday 29th April 2018

Rajasthan Royals v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Match 28, 16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders

Match 29, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Monday 30th April 2018

Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils

Match 30, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Tuesday 1st May 2018

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians

Match 31, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Wednesday 2nd May 2018

Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals

Match 32, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi

Thursday 3rd May 2018

Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings

Match 33, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Friday 4th May 2018

Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians

Match 34, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali

Saturday 5th May 2018

Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Match 35, 16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Sunrisers Hyderabad v Delhi Daredevils

Match 36, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

Sunday 6th May 2018

Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders

Match 37, 16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals

Match 38, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali

Monday 7th May 2018

Sunrisers Hyderabad v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Match 39, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

Tuesday 8th May 2018

Rajasthan Royals v Kings XI Punjab

Match 40, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Wednesday 9th May 2018

Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians

Match 41, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Thursday 10th May 2018

Delhi Daredevils v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Match 42, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi

Friday 11th May 2018

Rajasthan Royals v Chennai Super Kings

Match 43, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Saturday 12th May 2018

Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders

Match 44, 16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Daredevils

Match 45, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Sunday 13th May 2018

Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Match 46, 16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals

Match 47, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Monday 14th May 2018

Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Match 48, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali

Tuesday 15th May 2018

Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals

Match 49, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Wednesday 16th May 2018

Mumbai Indians v Kings XI Punjab

Match 50, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Thursday 17th May 2018

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Match 51, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Friday 18th May 2018

Delhi Daredevils v Chennai Super Kings

Match 52, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi

Saturday 19th May 2018

Rajasthan Royals v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Match 53, 16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders

Match 54, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

Sunday 20th May 2018

Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians

Match 55, 16:00 IST (10:30 GMT), Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi

Chennai Super Kings v Kings XI Punjab

Match 56, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Tuesday 22nd May 2018

TBC v TBC

Qualifier 1, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Wednesday 23rd May 2018

TBC v TBC

Eliminator, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), TBC, TBC

Friday 25th May 2018

TBC v TBC

Qualifier 2, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), TBC, TBC

Sunday 27th May 2018

TBC v TBC

Final, 20:00 IST (14:30 GMT), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Rashid Khan signing for Sussex could be THE coup of the T20 season

Sussex have pulled off an absolutely magnificent coup by securing the signing of leg spinner Rashid Khan for the first half of their T20 Blast campaign. The Afghan prodigy was the breakout star of the Big Bash, where he led the league with 18 wickets and had the best bowling economy. That put him ahead of modern day greats like Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar and it drove his team, the Adelaide Strikers, to the unlikeliest of BBL triumphs. The Sussex Sharks will hope that rubs off on them as they bid to claim a maiden T20 Blast title.

Much scepticism surrounded the Strikers at the start of BBL7, with pundits arguing that whoever was in charge of their recruitment had “some answering to do”. That came after they signed Khan and Colin Ingram, described by The Daily Telegraph as “hardly enthralling” additions to a squad depleted of the services of stars like Ben Dunk. The Strikers were tipped to finish second bottom in the ladder, but the critics were made to eat their words as Khan flourished and Adelaide beat the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash Final. “You talk to people around the world you trust and the feedback on Rashid was he was special, better than most,” said South Australian Cricket Association high performance manager Tim Nielsen, as the Strikers moved quickly to lock the teenage sensation into a new contract for BBL8.

At just 19 years of age, Khan has the world at his feet. He is already ranked as the world’s second best T20 bowler and is just one point behind the leader, Mitchell Santner, so he should soon overtake him and claim top spot. Khan has just been dubbed “million dollar baby” after Sunrisers Hyderabad snapped him up for a cool $1.4 million at the IPL auction, putting him in the top 10 most expensive players at the sale. He took 17 wickets for the Sunrisers last year, so their keenness to snap him up once more was understandable.

He is the poster boy for a new wave of optimism coming out of Afghanistan, a country where sport is no longer outlawed and the youth are now more aspirational in their outlook. He made his international debut just weeks after his 17th birthday and has never looked back. He has become the star player for his country and has also lit up the Caribbean Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League. He posted the fourth best figures of all time when he went 7-18 against the West Indies in June 2017, and he also became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the Caribbean Premier League.

Last month Khan was named Association Cricketer of the Year after taking a record 60 wickets in 2017. He embarrassed the Irish with 6-43 in an ODI and a barely believable 5-3 in a T20 contest. Nowadays Afghanistan can go into games against the likes of Ireland and Zimbabwe as favourites, and that is thanks to the meteoric rise of Khan. Remarkably for such a devastating spinner, he is also a better than average bowler, so Sussex have probably pulled off the signing of the season, even if he will only be available for the first half of the campaign.

Incoming Sharks coach Jason Gillespie knows him well as he is also the coach that masterminded the Adelaide Strikers’ famous Big Bash win this year. “I have been incredibly impressed with his attitude, work ethic and team-first mentality,” said Gillespie. “His form for Afghanistan and the T20 teams he has played for over the last couple of years has been phenomenal.” Khan added: “I have heard a lot of good things about Sussex and am excited to join a talented squad and I hope to help the team push for T20 silverware.”

Suddenly Sussex are among the favourites for the T20 Blast. Gillespie and Khan will bring a winning mentality with them, and that can only be a positive for a team that crashed out in the group stage last year. They have not tasted success since winning the T20 Cup back in 2009, and the furthest they have gone since it became the T20 Blast is a quarter-final appearance in 2015. But Khan has made a significant impact on all the teams he has played in so far during his fledgling career, and he will line up alongside another wunderkind in Jofra Archer, giving the Sharks will have a formidable line-up as they bid to overhaul the likes of Nottinghamshire and Birmingham Bears in the upcoming season.