Sixteen-year-old Sandeep Lamichhane, who impressed Australia's former captain when he played alongside him during the Hong Kong Twenty20 blitz in May, will line up for Clarke's Western Suburbs team when the NSW Premier Cricket season begins next Saturday.

The Sydney Cricket Association has granted Lamichhane an exemption given that Wests had filled their quota of three overseas players, set to be headed up by Leicestershire wicketkeeper Ned Eckersley.

Lamichhane, who was the second highest wicket-taker at this year's Under 19s World Cup and snared a hat-trick against Ireland, will attend Clarke's academy while in Australia.

Clarke has committed to playing the first three games of the season for the Magpies, starting with the round-one clash against Mosman at Allan Border Oval. "We've seen a bit of YouTube footage of him and clearly he gives the ball a rip," Western Suburbs president David Gilbert said.

"It's a very exciting story because you don't hear of too many cricketers coming out of Nepal. We're fascinated to see how it plays out.

"Michael contacted the club probably about six weeks ago and said, 'this kid is very, very good and we'd love to get him out to Australia'. It's a big ask for a 16-year-old to come straight into a very strong club competition and perform, but Michael's playing the first three games for Wests and no doubt he will take him under his wing and look after him."

Lamichhane will return to Nepal at the end of the year to prepare for further under-19s commitments, but his presence in Sydney will create plenty of interest leading into the summer.

Clarke made a one-off return to cricket with his grade club Western Suburbs in February this year having ended his international career a little over year ago after the Ashes.

But his commitment to play the first month of the season will be a huge boost for Western Suburbs, who finished last season as wooden spooners with just one win.