TV show winner set to join Foxes

Sukhvir has the chance to become a professional cricketer

The son of a bus driver is set to join Leicestershire for the summer after winning an Indian TV talent contest.

Seam bowler Sukhvir Singh won a public vote at the end of the Cricket Star series, set up by London-based company Investors in Cricket.

Part of the prize was an all expenses paid contract at Grace Road.

"He's got an exceptional work ethic and appears to be very fit. He wants to learn and that's the sort of person we want at the club," said coach Tim Boon.

Leicestershire played against Sukhvir during a recent pre-season tour for India when he opened the bowling for a Cricket Star XI in a Twenty20 match.

He has also spent time at the Indian academy at Mohali and the MRF Pace Academy, run by Australia Test great Dennis Lillee, in Madras.

The club have already signed seam bowler RP Singh and leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad as their overseas players for the 2007 season, so he will primarily be involved with the second XI, although Boon told BBC Sport he would be treated like every other player on the staff.

"He will go through all the fitness testing and screening as well as practising with the squad...we will also be looking to integrate him into the local community, which is a key part of the strategy going forward in terms of developing closer links and raising our profile on the sub-continent," he told the club's website.

Manoj Badale, the chairman of IIC, said the chance to play for Leicestershire was "a dream come true for a small village boy".

He added: "Sukhvir has demonstrated that although from a humble background, given the right opportunity and encouragement, one can bring out innate cricketing talent.

"Every top cricketer has had an English county stint and by exposing young budding talent to Leicestershire, we are upping the cricketing skills as well as other skills required for a modern day international cricketer."

Investors in Cricket hope to follow the success of the show in India by bringing it to England and Pakistan.