KENDAL Cricket Club should hold fears for visiting batsmen next season with the signing of Pakistani Test fast bowler Kabir Khan as professional for the Northern League season, writes Richard Daniels.

Kabir, the 26-yearold left-arm fast-medium opening bowler for for Habib Bank and Peshawar, is seen by many as a natural successor to Wasim Akram for Pakistan when he retires.

He holds the Pakistan first-class record for most wickets in a season by taking 113 victims in 18 matches, set two years ago and surpassing the previous-best by former Test spinner Ijaz Faqih which had lasted almost 20 years.

Kabir has made four Test appearances since his debut against Sri Lanka at Kandy in 1994/5 and he has played in ten one-day internationals .

Last summer toured with Pakistan team in the Singapore Challenge, in which he took the scalp of South African Jacques Kallis, the former Netherfield professional.

Kabir's exploits in this country include taking all ten wickets in a record-breaking season with Burnham CC in the Thames Valley League in 1999.

He is also a capable lower-order batsman with two first-class centuries to his credit.

Kabir said:"It will be an honour to play for Kendal but I am not coming for a holiday, nor am I going to give less than my maximum effort.

"I am looking forward to making new friends and helping the club to challenge for every honour we can.

"I have been told about some of the quality players we have in the side and I hope we can get a little more out of the guys.

But we must not forget that we will have to practice hard, play as one and enjoy it as well."

Batsman David Fallows was made Kendal captain at the players' meeting last Wednesday, replacing departed professional Ross Veenstra in the job.

Phil Ellwood stays at second-team skipper.

Kendal have lost talented teenage batsman David Barnes to the Durham Academy side, but have secured all-rounder Kevin Howarth, formerly with Leicestershire, who was Carnforth's professional in the North Lancashire League last year.

He had spells with Netherfield and Lancaster earlier in his career.

Medium-fast bowler Howarth is likely to open the attack with Kabir and joins an aggressive-looking batting line-up.

Heading the chase for runs with be Northern League record-holder Terry Hunte, who clocks up his 16th successive season at Shap Road.

Fallows, in his second season with Kendal, said:"I'm relishing the challenge of captaining the side.

"We are trying for a more structured approach and professional attitude this year with more coaching and better preparation for matches.

"The lads took a lot of the ideas on board last year and with a strengthened squad we are looking to improve and compete with the best Northern League sides."

Kendal start their winter nets at Sedbergh School this Sunday (8-10pm).