CORNWOOD Cricket Club are working on securing a replacement for Pakistani paceman Aizaz Cheema, who took a wicket against England last week, it has been revealed.

The club have confirmed they are looking at 'two overseas options' to fill the considerable shoes of their ex-star.

Cheema spent four seasons at Oak Park from 2008, but has now left the club given his burgeoning progress with his national team.

He took the wicket of Jonathan Trott during Pakistan's 10-wicket victory in the three-Test series against England in Dubai last week.

The 32-year-old was set to be part of the Pakistani attack in the second Test against England, which was due to start in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Now Cornwood, who also had another Pakistani Mohammad Salman on their books between 2005 and 2007, are busy trying to replace Cheema.

The club's development officer, Nick Goodliffe, said: 'We have obviously set ourselves high standards, with the last two overseas players going on to play at international level. Our 1st XI skipper and other club members are currently working on a package for Aizaz replacement, but it's too early to go into any details yet. But we can say we have two options at the moment, both of whom are overseas. 

'As well as being a good player, we are also looking for someone with good coaching ability and qualifications, as we intend to support local schools with coaching programmes during the summer term.'

Goodliffe said he and his fellow Cornwood clubmates had 'mixed feelings' when they watched Cheema in action last week given that he was playing against England.

He said: 'We certainly had mixed feelings, but everyone is so pleased that Aizaz has been able to realise his dream of playing for his country against the top test team in the world. It was one of those surreal moments when you turn on the television first thing in the morning and see Aizaz running in to bowl at Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook.

'We all want to see England continue their fine run of form in international test matches, but equally we want to see Aizaz do sufficiently well to continue being selected for Pakistan. Many of our club members maintain regular contact with Aizaz via Skype and Facebook.'

Cheema had a dream start to his Test career on last year's tour of Zimbabwe at the age of 31.

His figures of eight for 103 at Bulawayo were the second-best made by a Pakistani Test debutant.

Goodliffe added: 'Aizaz joined us for the 2008 season, so we basically had his services for four seasons, although last season was cut short due to his request to join up with the Pakistan squad for selection trials. He then went on to play against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka and returned the second best bowling figures for a Pakistan debutee. He stayed with club members and, on some occasions, in a Plymouth flat during his time at Cornwood.'

He described the likeable Pakistani as 'a really unassuming and genuine character, who always displayed 'a calm exterior'.

Speaking last week, Goodliffe added: 'He was a very good bowling coach; he worked with our senior teams, colts and ladies. Aizaz was a captain's dream because he always gave 100 per cent for the team.

'This was the only way he knew and ultimately it has paid dividends for him, as he is now opening the bowling against Pakistan. We hope he is selected for the second Test on Wednesday this week.'