 Chanderpaul will play for Durham at Canterbury this week |
West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul looks set to return to Durham next season. The county has begun talks with a view to securing the 33-year-old player's services for the 2008 season.
Coach Geoff Cook told BBC Radio Newcastle: "We have spoken to Shiv and hopefully he will be able to come back and join us again next season."
Chanderpaul will return for Durham's crucial County Championship game against Kent on Wednesday.
Durham need to win the game to have any hope of winning the County Championship title.
Chanderpaul joined the north-east side in July on a short-term contract and helped them win the Friends Provident Trophy title at Lord's.
His stay was interrupted by the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa, but Durham are now profiting from the Windies' early exit.
Next season county sides will only be allowed one overseas player, but Durham are hopeful of keeping Chanderpaul and Australian batsman Michael DiVenuto.
DiVenuto could be eligible for a European passport through his Italian grandparents.
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"We have spoken to Michael as well and would like him to come back for another year," added Cook.
"He has an offer from us and from his former county Derbyshire and he has some decisions to make.
"There has been talk of him trying to get a European passport because his grandparents are from Italy and if he could sort that out then that would be great.
"I am not sure how that would work exactly. He would not be classed as a Kolpak player, it would be through the EU but that is something that is open to us. He has to decide now what he wants to do."
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