Mongia for Hooper at Lancashire

Discarded Indian middle-order batsman Dinesh Mongia has been signed up by English county side Lancashire as a ‘short-term’ replacement overseas player. He will replace Lancashire’s injured foreign recruit former West Indies captain Carl Hooper, who is out with a broken thumb.

The Punjab Ranji captain will now be only the second Indian player ever to turn out for the ‘Red Rose’ side. First was ofcourse former India wicket-keeper Farookh Engineer who played for the Old Trafford-based club in the 60s and 70s.

Last year, Mongia’s Punjab teammate and India off-spinner came close to playing for Lancashire, but backed out of the agreement at the last minute owing to his finger injury.