GLAMORGAN coach David Harrison has hailed the work of Newport's clubmen for their efforts in securing the return of county cricket to the city.

The Welsh county return to Newport for the first time since 1990 – a washed out one-day fixture against Yorkshire – when they host Pakistan A at Spytty Park today (FRI, 10.30am start) in a 50-over encounter.

Club officials feared that Glamorgan would never return when they left their old Rodney Parade home for Spytty Park but 26 years on they have earned a fixture against the tourists, who are preparing for a triangular series with Sri Lanka A and England Lions.

Newport have regularly hosted Second XI fixtures for Glamorgan as well as Wales Minor Counties and national age-grade sides.

And former seamer Harrison, coach and analyst for Robert Croft's side, is relishing a return to Gwent.

"It's great to be back in east Wales," said the 34-year-old from Panteg. "I can vaguely remember going to watch a Glamorgan game when I was seven or eight with my father down at the old Newport ground.

"It's a great reward for the work that Newport have put in. (Club coach) Mike Knight and the guys have done extremely well over the last couple of years to get that ground and pitch up to a standard that can take List A cricket. I am sure everyone is looking forward to hosting the game.

"I've played a fair amount of second team games there for Glamorgan over the years. The pitch is always good, so is the outfield and they've worked really hard to get a first team fixture there and I am sure it will go well."

Glamorgan don't include any of the first teamers that featured in the NatWest T20 Blast against Hampshire last night but Harrison believes the fixture presents a golden chance for the county's next crop of talent with Tredegar wicket-keeper Cameron Herring, formerly of Gloucestershire, set to be among those getting a game.

"This is a great opportunity for the younger lads to get experience against an international A side, press their claims and move forward for the rest of the summer," he said.

Pakistan A head to Wales on the back of an excellent eight-wicket win against their Sri Lankan counterparts in the unofficial second Test in Worcester.

Batsman Saul Shakeed, 20, grasped his chance to impress the selectors with 86 and an unbeaten 51 while 22-year-old right-arm seamer Hasan Ali took seven wickets.

Glamorgan: W Bragg (captain), J Kettleborough, N Selman, T Smith, J Lawlor, K Carlson, A Salter, J Murphy, R Smith, O Morgan, C Herring (wicket-keeper), DP Jones, L Carey