KENT seem set to further strengthen their bowling department with the signing of former Worcestershire left-arm paceman Alamgir Sheriyar.

The Birmingham-born bowler, who celebrates his 29th birthday this week, is likely to be unveiled as Kent’s latest signing tomorrow.

Sheriyar, recently released from the final year of his three-year deal at New Road, was the country’s leading wicket-taker in 1999 with 92 victims.

He made his limited overs debut for Leicestershire in 1993 and a first-class bow the following summer when he was a team-mate of former Kent wicketkeeper Paul Nixon, who later advised him to join Worcestershire in 1996.

Since then, Sheriyar has taken five wickets in an innings 16 times for the county and 10 wickets in a first-class match three times.

In his best season to date, 1999, Sheriyar bagged the second hat-trick of his career against Kent by sending back Andrew Symonds, Trevor Ward and his new skipper, David Fulton, with successive deliveries.

Sheriyar joins Somerset all-rounder Peter Trego in the St Lawrence bowling department for 2003 after he signed a two-year deal last month.