PAKISTAN legend Waqar Younis has hailed new Hampshire signing Saeed Ajmal.

The 35-year-old Ajmal was recently unveiled as the Royals’ overseas player for the latter weeks of next summer.

Australian batsman George Bailey is expected to miss the final few games of the 2013 season due to his country’s limited overs commitments in England.

Younis, the third highest wicket-taker in ODI history with 416 victims, said: “Saeed Ajmal is a match-winner. He’s a wicket-taking bowler, who doesn’t bowl to contain batsmen, and he’s economical.

“He’s Pakistan’s key bowler on all surfaces, not just on turning tracks, and he’s taken wickets against everybody this year.

“He’s improving and the calming influence of Misbah-Ul-Haq as captain has helped to get the best out of Ajmal.

“Right now he’s up with the best spin bowlers in the world and he’s equally effective in Tests and ODIs.

“He can get the best batsmen out on any surface and Hampshire are fortunate to have signed him.

“He will take a lot of wickets for them.”

Ajmal is currently ranked No. 3 on the rankings for the world’s best bowlers in Tests & No.1 in ODIs.

Younis bagged 373 Test wickets for Pakistan in just 87 Tests, making him the world’s 15th highest Test wicket-taker.

But in ODIs only Muttiah Muralitharan (534) and ex-Hampshire bowler Wasim Akram (502) have bagged more wickets.