STEVE Smith has been given permission to join Worcestershire for their Friends Provident t20 campaign by Cricket Australia.

The leg-spinning all-rounder has received clearance from the Australian board to play at New Road from June 4, however, the County are still unsure how long they will have the 20-year-old for.

Australia are set to play Pakistan in England this summer with their first Twenty20 match in July with the FPt20 still in progress.

But the Aussie sensation, who Worcestershire opener Phil Jaques described as a ‘freak’ of nature last month, is likely to play around 10 of the 16 matches for the Royals.

Smith was part of the Australian side that were beaten by England in the final of the World Twenty20 tournament last Sunday.

“Steve has continued his fine development as a cricketer by becoming a regular member of the Australian one-day and Twenty20 teams,” director of cricket Steve Rhodes said.

“We are delighted he will be taking part in our Twenty20 campaign. How much will depend on Australian selection.

“But at this stage he will be playing in the early part of the competition at least.”

The Australian selectors are expected to announce their summer squads early next week so the County are hoping to know Smith’'s full availability then.

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan, Worcestershire’s overseas player for the second part of the season, is facing a race against time to be fit for the first Test with England next week.

The world’s leading one-day all-rounder has been suffering with chickenpox and missed the tour games with Essex and England Lions.

Shakib will join the New Road side in mid-July as he replaces Jaques for the second half of the campaign. His illness is not expected to have any bearing on him joining Worcestershire.

Meanwhile, Northamptonshire have signed former Sri Lanka and Worcestershire seamer Chaminda Vaas for this summer’s Twenty20 campaign.