Surrey sign Bangladesh legend Shakib Al Hasan – for one match

Depleted double champions Surrey have roped in the great Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for their top-of-the-table clash against second-placed Somerset.

Surrey head to Taunton for Monday’s game with a 24-point advantage over Somerset, but the loss of eight players to England duty has seen director of cricket Alec Stewart bring in Shakib for a single match as they chase a third successive title.

Surrey have four players – Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson – in England’s Test squad for the ongoing match with Sri Lanka, as well as four in the T20 team to face Australia from Wednesday: Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton and Reece Topley.

Of their more regular overseas players, Kemar Roach is available, but Sean Abbott is with Australia and Sai Sudharsan has returned to India for national duty.

Surrey, who are better resourced than their county rivals, will still have six Test players in their squad, including Tom Curran, who could make his first Championship appearance of the season.

Shakib looks the perfect signing for a trip to Taunton, given spin is likely to play a big role on a late-summer pitch with the Kookaburra ball in use. Jack Leach took 12 wickets in Somerset’s most recent match, an outstanding 293-run win over Durham, with spinners Lewis Goldsworthy and Archie Vaughan also in the team. Shakib, 37, has 242 Test wickets with his left-arm spin, as well as a Test batting average of 38.5.

“When the opportunity to bring a player of the quality of Shakib to the club came along it was an easy decision to make,” said Stewart. “We’ve been aware for a period of time that this fixture was likely to be one where we would have a significant number of players away on England duty and, in particular, missing two of our spinning all-rounders.

“Shakib brings a wealth of experience and outstanding skill with bat and ball and we look forward to seeing what he can do for Surrey.”