Ash signs again

Accrington have re-signed their professional Ashar Zaidi for the 2012 season.

The 30 year-old Pakistani has been a revelation in his first season in the Lancashire League helping his team to share the lead at the top of the table at the halfway point in the season.

Zaidi averages 75.5 with the bat in scoring 680 runs with two centuries and five half centuries, heading the league batting averages and run scoring charts. His 174 at Rawtenstall was the second highest score ever by an Accrington player in the club's highest ever score, 386-6, and he also set a new Lancashire League record 5th wicket stand of 247 with Graham Lloyd (112) in the same match.

The all rounder's medium pace and left arm orthodox spin bowling has picked up 36 wicket at 17.1, including 7-42 in the opening match against Rishton and 5-45 against Haslingden.

Skipper Jimmy Hayhurst said: "Fantastic news! Ash has been superb so far and we hope it continues. We had to get it sorted out so early because other clubs were sniffing around and we had competition to get his signature. The committee has to be applauded on their efforts in moving so swiftly to get it sorted."