Shoaib Malik joins Lancashire for FPT20 2010

Lancashire have confirmed the former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik will play for the county in this season's Friends Provident Twenty20 competition.

Shoaib Malik is without international commitments as he is serving a 12-month ban issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board after being accused of disrupting team morale during the tour of Australia. An appeal is ongoing but Malik will focus his efforts the game with his debut likely to come on 4 June against Durham. He will join incoming overseas duo Simon Katich and Shivnarine Chanderpaul at Old Trafford, while the South African international Ashwell Prince departs at the end of May.

Malik said: "When Lancashire approached me to come and play for them I didn't hesitate in saying yes. I love playing cricket in England and the opportunity to play with a club of Lancashire's reputation was too good to pass up. I'm very excited and look forward to a strong T20 campaign."

Lancashire coach Peter Moores added that Shoaib has a proven track record in the game and is a versatile cricketer. He can bat up and down the order and is an experienced spin bowler.