Rhodes is staring his sixth season in charge at New Road

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes says Worcestershire have made cuts in order to sign their three overseas players for the 2011 season.

Damien Wright, Shakib Al Hasan and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal have all agreed to join the county in the past week.

"The cricket budget is the same, but we have cut back in other areas," Rhodes told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"The players may not get as many single hotel rooms and nice coach travel, but we can employ some decent cricketers."

Australian all-rounder Damien Wright will play for Worcestershire in the first part of the season, with Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal at arriving at New Road for the second half of the summer.

Shakib Al Hasan has re-signed for the county for the Friends Provident t20, and Rhodes said he was able to secure the signature of the Bangladesh all-rounder without dealing with an agent.

"They are not everyone's cup of tea, but you do get some tremendous agents," he added.

"Most players do have agents and in my position you have to deal with agents all the time.

"Often they are very useful and we can use them. They can sort out work permits and travel, and that takes a bit of work off us.

"Some of the money does go out of the game and it goes into the agents' pockets, but at times it's crucial we get the agent working for us."

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