Hampshire have sent Yasir Arafat on loan to Somerset for the season.

The 34 year-old Pakistani took 17 T20 wickets at 28.6 last season, his first with Hampshire, after spells with five other counties - including Somerset, in 2013.

He effectively secured Hampshire a quarter-final place with figures of 4-37 against Somerset last year.

The limited-overs specialist, who took 20 T20 wickets bat 14.6 for Somerset in 2013, also took five wickets at 44 in six one-day appearances for Hampshire last year.

Hampshire had hoped his qualification status would allow him to play as a 'local' this year, with Ryan McLaren and Shahid Afridi the county's principal T20 overseas players for 2016.

But the signing of Reece Topley would have limited Yasir's chances of playing regularly.

Director of cricket Giles White explained: "Reece Topley will be bowling our death overs in one-day cricket and the opportunity for young bowlers to push for places will potentially narrow the playing prospects for Yasir.

"It seems right to allow a player of his experience to play at a club that can guarantee him game time.”

Arafat is available to play all white-ball cricket for Somerset, including the two T20 games against Hampshire - at Taunton on June 19 and The Ageas Bowl on July 29 - and the last Royal London One-Day Cup group game away to James Vince's men on August 2.

Somerset director of cricket Matthew Maynard said: “Following the departure of Alfonso Thomas at the end of last season it was felt that we lacked a little bit of experience in our bowling attack and Yasir will certainly bring that."