SHAHID Afridi returns for Hampshire’s Natwest T20 Blast opener against Glamorgan at the Swalec Stadium tonight.

Afridi and Hampshire had a disappointing T20 campaign last year, but ‘Boom Boom’ will be aiming to reproduce his 2011 brilliance over the next eight weeks - starting in Cardiff at 6.30pm.

Hampshire have named a 15-man squad with Rilee Rossouw set to make his T20 debut for the county.

Kyle Abbott, an overseas player in 2014, may play his first county game as a Kolpak.

He and Fidel Edwards, who is available for his first T20 match since 2015, may be rested after a tough four days against Surrey at The Oval.

Ian Holland has been left out after his exploits over the last two days.

Chris Wood, who has an excellent record at the Swalec, and Reece Topley are both in contention after helping the 2nd XI to a T20 win against their Somerset counterparts at Taunton Vale on Wednesday.

Michael Carberry and Will Smith also return to the squad after featuring for the 2nd XI in their double-header against the Cidermen.

Hampshire will be determined to start the campaign well after last season’s disappointment, when they finished second from bottom of the south division.

James Vince’s side will also be aiming to avenge a white-ball defeat against Glamorgan from earlier this season.

Two months ago Vince hit 178, Hampshire’s highest-ever one-day score, as his side amassed 332-6 in the group stage of the Royal London One-day Cup.

Then Colin Ingram (115) and Chris Cooke (59no from 27 balls) ensured it was chased down with more than an over to spare.

Glamorgan just missed out on the RLODC quarter-finals, finishing a point behind eventual runners-up Surrey.

But after reaching their first T20 quarter-final in 13 years last season, Jacques Rudolph’s side will be confident of qualifying for the last eight again.

Hampshire(from): Vince, Shahid Afridi, Rossouw, Bailey, Ervine, McManus, Berg, Wood, Edwards, Topley, Wheal, Carberry, Abbott, Smith, Crane.

Glamorgan (from): Lloyd, Rudolph (c), Meschede, Donald, Salter, Ingram, Cooke, Wagg, Morgan, Carlson, de Lange, van der Gugten, Hogan.