ZAHEER Khan, the Indian left-arm fast bowler, has been announced as Nathan Bracken's replacement after the Australian opted out of his Worcestershire contract.

Following a successful domestic season and regular selection for Australia over the last six months, Bracken indicated he might not be available to play for much of the 2006 season.

The County, therefore, agreed to release him from his contract.

Fellow Aussie Phil Jaques will still play for Worcestershire this season.

Zaheer, who has taken 155 one-day international wickets as well as 121 Test scalps, is currently not part of the Indian team and it is expected he will be available for the entire season.

The 27-year-old, an automatic selection for India until he suffered his hamstring injury, is now fully recovered.

He last played international cricket in India's fifth one-day series match against Pakistan in Karachi on February 19.

He said: "To have the opportunity to play for Worcestershire is a privilege.

"I very much look forward to the season ahead and to re-establishing myself on the international scene while helping the County to win as many matches as possible."

Zaheer is expected to arrive at New Road in mid-April for the start of the season, subject to clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

County director of cricket Steve Rhodes is delighted to have been able to secure such an experienced player at short notice.

He said: "We are pleased for Nathan that he has had such a successful six months since we signed him, but we really want stability with our overseas players this year.

"We targeted a left-arm fast bowler from the start of our deliberations for 2006.

"Zaheer has had an outstanding domestic season in India and is exactly the type of player we feel will bring variation to our bowling attack."

Meanwhile, Worcestershire are hoping to get a decision from the England and Wales Cricket Board in the next couple of weeks on whether non-Test match venues, such as New Road, will receive a slice of the money Test venues benefit from for hosting international matches.

Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton said: "The matter has been discussed by the ECB board and we are still waiting for the final outcome, but the discussions have been going in a positive manner.

"Several ECB board members were not at the first meeting, so they needed to be consulted too, but we are hopeful of a decision in the next couple of weeks."