SOUTH African cricketer Ottniel Baartman will no longer join up with Hampshire Hawks for T20 Blast, the club has confirmed. 

The world-class overseas bowler was meant to be available for the Hawks' final six Blast group matches.

Hawks have now announced that Ottniel Baartman is no longer joining up with the team in this year's Vitality Blast.

He was supposed to be available as a replacement for Naveen-ul-Haq. However, after missing the last two matches due to visa issues, he will no longer be joining.

Hampshire's club statement adds: "We would like to wish Ottniel all the best and hope to see him in a Hawks shirt in the future."

Right-armer Baartman has won South Africa's domestic T20 tournament - the SA 20 - for the last two seasons with Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

He finished as the competition's second-leading wicket-taker this year with 18 wickets and an economy rate of 6.95.

Hampshire have won just three, lost one and drawn five of their nine T20 matches before they play Gloucestershire at Utilita Bowl tonight. 

They then finish the group stages with matches against Somerset, Surrey and Essex as they look to qualify for the quarter-finals.