DURHAM have lined up Zimbabwean all-rounder Andy Blignaut as a temporary overseas player following the departure of Shoaib Akhtar.

They have agreed terms and are hoping to secure a visa within a week, which would make him available for the three home Twenty20 Cup matches.

The intention is that he will stay until mid-August, when Durham expected Shoaib to leave and had already spoken to another replacement.

Despite their suspension from Test cricket, Zimbabwe will be playing in the ICC Champions Trophy and the last game Blignaut is likely to play before joining them is the championship match against Somerset, starting at Riverside on August 13.

He would play in two other four-day matches, at home to Derbyshire and away to Leicestershire, plus six totesport League games.

Born in Harare, Blignaut will be 26 on August 1 and boasts the best bowling figures in a Test debut for Zimbabwe with five for 73 against Bangladesh in 2001.

He has played in 15 Tests, taking 51 wickets at 32.62 and has a a batting average of 24.53 with a top score of 92. He has a reputation as a big hitter.

l Marcus North has been named in Australia's 30-man squad for the ICC Trophy, although he is unlikely to survive when they whittle it down to 14 in early August.