WORCESTERSHIRE have swooped for the world's fastest bowler.

Shoaib Akhtar will spearhead the County's attack next season after director of cricket Tom Moody made the Pakistani ace one of his overseas players.

The 29-year-old, who holds the unofficial title as the quickest quickie on the planet, will sign subject to clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Shoaib -- currently the fourth best bowl-er in the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Test Match rankings behind Steve Harmison, Shaun Pollock and Muttiah Muralitharan -- will be available from July 1 and Moody believes the signing is a significant step forward for the New Road club.

"Shoaib is a world class strike bowler in both forms of the game and he will spearhead our drive for success in the latter half of the season," said Moody.

"His experience of county cricket can only be an advantage to us at New Road. He creates a huge buzz wherever he bowls and I have no doubt Shoaib will be a popular member of the squad both on and off the field.

"Potentially, he can be as devastating to county cricket as Waqar Younis was when he came to the country. I think Shoaib will relish the opportunity to play within a stronger team at county level, with due respect to Durham. He is a genuine strike bowler and I'm looking forward to working with him."

The 'Rawalpindi Express', who clocked 100.23mph in the World Cup last year, has had two spells at Durham in county cricket but his most recent one, in 2004, was punctuated by injury. However, Pakistan's main weapon cannot wait for his New Road career to start.

"I love playing cricket in England and I'm really looking forward to helping Worcestershire get straight back into Division One of the Championship and challenge for honours in the one-day game," he said.

"I'll be rested and raring to go when I start in July and, from looking at the players Worcester have in their side, am confident we'll have a successful season."

He burst onto the international stage in the 1999 World Cup, lighting up the competition with his bewildering speed.

However, Shoaib was twice sidelined over throwing allegations and, although his action was subsequently cleared, injuries cast doubts over his future.

He hit back in 2002, turning in memorable spells against Australia, but the World Cup in 2003 was a disappointment despite his 100mph ball against England.

Injuries returned to haunt the pace ace last season but Shoaib remains one of the most feared strike bowlers in world cricket. This winter he will tour Australia and the West Indies with Pakistan.

Shoaib has played 33 Tests for Pakistan, taking 133 wickets at 24.32. In one-day internationals, he has collected 186 wickets from 118 games, averaging 22.7, while his first class record is equally impressive with 380 wickets taken at 25.9.