If first impressions are to be any guide, then Portsmouth have signed a more than adequate replacement for their Bangladesh international Mohammed Ashraful, who has re-joined his country's coaching set-up after plundering 1,500 ECB Southern Premier League runs in the past two seasons.
The Southsea club has snapped up 31-year old Indian all-rounder Nazim Siddiqui [left], who made an immediate impression last weekend, making 78 against Sarisbury Athletic and an unbeaten 104 in the ECB national club championship win over Windsor & Eton.
The likeable Siddiqui, who hails from Jharkhand on India's east coast, is in all-rounder in every sense. Since making his debut in the 2017/18 Ranji Trophy, he has been a consistent performer in both red and white-ball formats, amassing 2,228 first-class runs, alongside bowling medium-pace and keeping wicket !
He wore the gloves with some aplomb last weekend.
Siddiqui has previously enjoyed two strong seasons with Plymouth in the Devon League (2023–24), scoring 1,048 runs at 36.14 and taking 20 wickets.
His arrival on Southsea seafront complements a powerful Portsmouth batting line-up, with skipper Harry Gadd's only concern the absence of a new ball partner for Joe Kooner-Evans. Expect plenty of spin on what looks a superb St Helen's track.
The Southsea club has snapped up 31-year old Indian all-rounder Nazim Siddiqui [left], who made an immediate impression last weekend, making 78 against Sarisbury Athletic and an unbeaten 104 in the ECB national club championship win over Windsor & Eton.
The likeable Siddiqui, who hails from Jharkhand on India's east coast, is in all-rounder in every sense. Since making his debut in the 2017/18 Ranji Trophy, he has been a consistent performer in both red and white-ball formats, amassing 2,228 first-class runs, alongside bowling medium-pace and keeping wicket !
He wore the gloves with some aplomb last weekend.
Siddiqui has previously enjoyed two strong seasons with Plymouth in the Devon League (2023–24), scoring 1,048 runs at 36.14 and taking 20 wickets.
His arrival on Southsea seafront complements a powerful Portsmouth batting line-up, with skipper Harry Gadd's only concern the absence of a new ball partner for Joe Kooner-Evans. Expect plenty of spin on what looks a superb St Helen's track.
