Hampshire have approached Kevin Pietersen about playing for the county in this season’s T20 Blast.

But Pietersen, who has been playing for the Rising Pune Supergiants at the Indian Premier League, turned down the invitation to add to the two T20 appearances he made in his six years at Hampshire from 2005-10.

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove told The Times: I talked to him at Dubai and wanted him to play for us but he said the structure would not suit him.

“It’s a shame players like him aren’t taking part.”

Shahid Afridi arrived yesterday and Hampshire’s other overseas player, Darren Sammy, arrives today ahead of the county's opening game against Middlesex at Uxbridge on Friday (5.30pm).