Middlesex hopeful of Ntini deal

Ntini has taken 390 wickets in 101 Tests for South Africa

Captain Shaun Udal says Middlesex are close to signing South Africa paceman Makhaya Ntini as a Kolpak player.

Speculation that Ntini is set to retire from Test cricket has gathered pace after he was left out of South Africa's side to face England in the third Test.

The 32-year-old has had a poor series, taking just two wickets and conceding 347 runs in the first two Tests.

Udal told BBC Sport: "He has not officially signed, but the next call is his. We'd be delighted to sign him."

Ntini, who played for Warwickshire in 2005, made his 100th appearance for South Africa in the first match of the four-Test series.

Middlesex have already recruited New Zealand's Iain O'Brien as their overseas player for the summer but Ntini would be allowed to join as a Kolpak player.

606: DEBATE What impact would Ntini have at Middlesex? BBC Sport's Peter Scrivener

Udal, speaking to BBC Test Match Special, added: "We have been made aware that if this series did not go particularly well then he had expressed an interest in playing county cricket of some form if he decided that was the route he wanted to go down.

"I think he's made himself available to two or three places but he's chosen, if anything happens, and it is still a big if, that he would like to come and play at Lord's. So we were asked would we be interested and we said absolutely.

"He's got a fantastic record he's taken more Test wickets than any other seamer in the last decade, but the decision is his."

Kolpak players are signed using a loophole in European Union law to allow stars from countries and regions with associate trade agreements with the EU - such as South Africa and the West Indies - to avoid counting such players against a county's overseas quota.

The England and Wales Cricket Board recently succeeded in lobbying for new Home Office laws that will restrict the number of Kolpaks.

Udal also confirmed that Middlesex are still in talks with India legend Sachin Tendulkar about playing Twenty20 cricket at for the north London side this summer.

Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, 38, has already agreed to play for the Panthers in their group matches.

"Sachin would love to come," said Udal. "But the Board of Control for Cricket in India are not being as positive as he would like. They are trying to organise a one-day tournament which may scupper our plans.

"He has a house just round the corner from Lord's in St John's Wood and to have two of the world's great cricketers would be great for our youngsters."

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