Hampshire look to Shahid Afridi and Glenn Maxwell
- Published
Hampshire boss Giles White says he is looking to bring in Shahid Afridi and Glenn Maxwell for October's Champions League pre-qualifying tournament.
Hants qualified for the tournament for the first time after winning the English T20 competition on Saturday.
Afridi played for the Royals in their T20 campaign in 2011, while Maxwell starred in the group stages this year.
"It is likely if things go the way we expect them to," Hants manager White told BBC Radio Solent.
Pakistan all-rounder Afridi had been scheduled to play for Hampshire in this season's T20 tournament but his return to the county was ended because of visa problems.
His availability for the group stages of the Champions League would be a major boost for Hants while Maxwell was excellent with the bat for the county this season.
"We just need to sort out the detail and we look forward to having them onside again," added White.
"It's great to have a couple of dynamic players like that but we're losing Simon Katich and Neil McKenzie so it's a change. It'll be a different type of cricket that we'll player but one that is very exciting."
In Hampshire's pre-qualifying group in South Africa are New Zealand side, the Auckland Aces, and Pakistan outfit Sialkot Stallions. The group winners go through to the Champions League proper.
White says he is relishing the opportunity to pit his side against some of the best teams in the world.
"The Champions League is an added bonus and something we have aspired to be in for a couple of years now," he said.
"We'll have one eye on that competition and put things in place for it. This can only be a good thing for the club, it is exciting if anything else.
"There has been a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes and Rod (Bransgrove) has been fantastic is setting the club up.
"It will be good for us to go out there and express ourselves against the best players in the world and some very fine teams. But the key is to get through this qualifying stage first."