Rod Bransgrove hopes that Shoaib Akhtar will help attract Southampton's Asian cricket fans to the Rose Bowl.

Hampshire's marketing team went to great lengths to welcome the city's Indian cricket lovers to West End when Sachin Tendulkar and the rest of the India side played a tour match against Robin Smith's men in July.

Now the club are ready to welcome some more first time visitors to the Rose Bowl this summer.

Hampshire Cricket chairman Bransgrove is due to meet Shoaib for the first time when the Pakistani flies into Southampton for his medical next week.

And he said: "Shoaib is a real Asian hero and we know that that can help us off the field as well as on it.

"One of the most important things about this signing is that it could capture the imagination of the huge Asian population in Southampton and we want to see that reflected in our membership."

Shoaib will be the first Pakistani cricketer since Aqib Javed to play for Hampshire. Aqib finished as the county's leading wicket taker in 1991, his only season with the club.

After arriving at Northlands Road aged just 18, he took 53 championship wickets at an average of 29.92 and played his part in the one-day competitions as Hampshire won the Natwest Trophy and reached the quarter finals of the Benson & Hedges Cup.

Shoaib, though, is in a different league to Aqib.

Bransgrove added: "I'm delighted, he would be a fantastic signing. If we can't get the best spin bowler in the world we might as well get the fastest bowler.

"I'm a big fan of all world beaters and Shoaib Akhtar is definitely one of them, he's a world star in his own right.

"I've never met him before but I'm looking forward to it, hopefully I'll see him when he comes down for his medical."

Provided Shoaib passes his medical, the new captain will have seam bowling options that include former England pair Ed Giddins and Alan Mullally and Academy prospect Chris Tremlett, as well as the fastest bowler on the planet.

With Shaun Udal and Simon Katich providing the spin bowling, Hampshire will have arguably the strongest attack in the second division - if the pace men stay fit.

Bransgrove added: "I'm not in the least bit worried about our bowling strength. Injuries to some of our pace bowlers at the end of last season made a bad situation even worse but we'll be able to rotate our bowlers and keep them fit.

"Last year was a setback for us but our squad is already looking a lot stronger and well-managed."