Departing overseas star Tamim Iqbal is backing Notts Outlaws to win their maiden Friends Life t20 title this summer after being part of their impressive run to the quarter-finals.

The Green and Golds secured top spot in the North Group table with 11 wins from 16 matches after beating Worcestershire Royals by 25 runs at Trent Bridge on Friday night.

It also meant the Outlaws went unbeaten on their own patch throughout the group stages, with seven wins and a wash-out from eight matches.

They will now host Somerset, who finished fourth in the South Group, in the last eight.

Tamim – drafted in on a short-term contract to replace Australian David Hussey – is not available for that as he now returns to Bangladesh.

But the opening bat has seen enough in the five matches he has played to be convinced Notts can triumph at Edgbaston on August 27.

"I'm sure the boys could go all the way this year. Even without their overseas players, they play like a team," said Tamim.

"They have the potential to become champions with the form they are in and I will be hoping they do."

Tamim insists he would love to come back to England and have a longer stint in county cricket, including in the LV= County Championship.

The left-handed opener showed his credentials in the longer form of the game last year with two Test centuries against England.

"I have enjoyed it a lot and I have learned a few new things," he said.

"I would like to come back to Notts. Four-day cricket is the main game, t20 you will hit it off one day and the next you won't.

"I'm really excited at the idea of playing four-day cricket, but I'm happy to have had this opportunity with Notts – it's been brilliant."

Matt Halfpenny is the Midlands Sports Journalist Of The Year and covers cricket for the Nottingham Post.