Canterbury wants Akram to appear for the province in the Shell Cup one-day series from late December to early February.

Chief executive Tony Murdoch said negotiations with Akram and his agent would be ongoing in the coming days as both parties sought to come to terms. Murdoch said he wanted the matter resolved by the first week of next month when both the provincial and national season launches are being held.

Akram is being sought as a major drawcard for the cup series by Canterbury, which will be without New Zealand players such as Chris Cairns, Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, and Chris Harris, when they are on international duty.