Tahir makes championship bow

Imran Tahir is set to play for Hampshire at Old Trafford

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Hampshire’s new signing Imran Tahir is set to make his LV County Championship debut in the Division One clash with Lancashire after the Pakistan A leg-spinner joined last week.

Tahir played in yesterday’s NatWest Pro40 defeat to Nottinghamshire and is likely to replace Zimbabwean off-spinner Greg Lamb following the corresponding fixture at the Rose Bowl last week.

Former South Africa fast bowler Nantie Hayward remains a doubt and England batsman Kevin Pietersen will not feature.

Lancashire batsman Mal Loye is again absent after suffering back spasms.

Cricket manager Mike Watkinson will make at least one change to that XI that won by six wickets last week with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff on international duty along with seamer James Anderson.

Kyle Hogg and Oliver Newby will contest Flintoff’s place. Batsman Iain Sutcliffe is also in the 13-man squad.