Royal appointment for Snape

Jeremy Snape will work for three weeks as Rajasthan Royals performance coach

Leicestershire spinner Jeremy Snape has agreed a deal to join Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals as high performance coach for three weeks.

It means Snape, who was an assistant coach during England’s 2007 World Cup campaign, becomes the second English player after Hampshire skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas to miss the early part of the domestic season to take part in the multi-million pound Twenty20 tournament.

The 34-year-old, who joins Mascarenhas and Somerset captain Justin Langer at the Jaipur-based side, last appeared in the international arena during last year’s World Twenty20 in South Africa.

Leicestershire chief executive David Smith is certain the stint can only be beneficial to both player and county.

He said: "Leicestershire CCC are very supportive of his involvement and are sure that he can pass on the experiences gained in India to our younger players, particularly, in our Twenty20 campaign starting on June 11 at Grace Road against Lancashire."

Snape is flying out on Wednesday and returns on May 2 meaning he will miss three LV County Championship games and one Friends Provident match against Northamptonshire on April 20.