Azhar Ali is set to make his Worcestershire debut, and opener Ed Pollock is also in contention to play his first-ever LV=Insurance County Championship match against Leicestershire at the Uptonsteel County Ground today.

Azhar has been practicing with his teammates after flying in to England at the weekend following a successful Test Series for Pakistan against Australia.

He is available for the bulk of the red ball campaign and is part of a 13 strong squad announced today to face Leicestershire.

Head Coach Alex Gidman said: “We’d heard some fantastic things about him as a person, and he has quickly settled in.

“On the pitch, we know what he is capable of. Off the pitch, we are desperately excited to get to know him and watch him go about his business.

“He comes with a great reputation, and we are looking forward to having him with us for most of the summer.”

Pollock did not play any red-ball cricket for Warwickshire but has impressed in pre-season to put himself in the frame for a possible debut.

Gidman said: “Part of his reason to move was to have a better opportunity or better chance of playing Championship cricket.

“He has been really, really impressive during pre-season and deserves to be in the first squad.”

Brett D’Oliveira will lead out the side in a competitive match for the first time since being made official Club Captain.

Gidman said: “It will be a proud thing for him. Brett is Worcestershire through and through, and he is highly passionate and excited about this group of players and the club.

“He is a wonderful young man, an exceptional young leader, tactically very astute, and a very inspirational captain.

“I can assure everyone that the team and the club are in very safe hands with Brett as the club captain.”

Worcestershire squad for the trip to Leicestershire: Jake Libby, Ed Pollock, Azhar Ali, Jack Haynes, Gareth Roderick, Brett D’Oliveira, Ed Barnard, Ben Cox, Josh Baker, Joe Leach, Charlie Morris, Dillon Pennington, Adam Finch.