Northants head coach David Ripley has revealed that he is hoping Shahid Afridi will return later this summer if the team make it to the latter stages of the T20 Blast.
Afridi played the final match in his six-game spell on Sunday as the Steelbacks eased to a eight-wicket victory over Yorkshire in a reduced contest at Headingley.
The former Pakistan all-rounder will now join up with St Kitts & Nevis for the Caribbean Premier League, but Ripley is keen to bring the 35-year-old back should his side reach the quarter-finals.
"We were in the right place at the right time. For such a big name, it hasn't cost us a great deal at all," Ripley told BBC Radio Northampton. "Some private sponsors helped us and he was through here on his way to the Caribbean Premier League.
"He's been good to have in the dressing room. He's been a little unfortunate with the weather being so cold for spin, and the Leicestershire game getting rained off.
"We hope we might get him back if we are to progress any further in the competition."
Northants are currently seventh in the North Group, one point outside the top four.