HARARE - Out-of-contract Midwest Rhinos medium pace bowler Richard Muzhange has signed a five-month summer contract with Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club in England.

The 22-year-old from Kadoma, who has failed to cement a place in the Zimbabwe national side since showing promise in an official Twenty20 triangular series with South Africa and Bangladesh mid-last year, will jet off to the UK at the weekend.

 “I am looking forward to the trip, it’s my first time in the UK,” Muzhange told the Daily News yesterday. “I can’t go into full details of my contract but it’s definitely better than the one I had here.”

Muzhange featured in the unofficial T20 series with South Africa and Bangladesh last year, chipping in with crucial wickets to help Zimbabwe to a series win.

 He was the second highest wicket taker in domestic Twenty20 cricket with 11 wickets from seven games last season.   

His impressive domestic form caught the eye of former Midwest Rhinos coach, the former Australia pace bowler Jason Gillespie, who is now the coach of English County side Yorkshire.

Gillespie recommended Muzhange to Pudsey St Lawrence, one of the County’s feeder clubs.  

Pudsey plays in the Bradford first division league. - Brian Matamba