Kabir misses out on move

Kabir Ali's hopes of leaving New Road have been dashed by a reluctance from his pursuers to pay compensation

Kabir Ali looks set to remain at Worcestershire after failing in his bid to secure a move elsewhere.

The former England seamer, who has one year left on his contract, was in talks with several teams, and was reported to have agreed a deal to join Hampshire.

But no county agreed to pay the £60,000 compensation fee demanded by Worcestershire, and Kabir is no longer permitted to talk to other clubs after the September 30 deadline passed.

Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton said: “Kabir and his adviser, Roger Newman, have informed us that he would like to move to another county but no compensation fee or offer has been forthcoming so Kabir remains in contract and permission to talk to other counties is no longer in place.

“We do not want to lose Kabir as he is one of the finest seam bowlers in the country and has been with the club for 10 years. He is one of our prized players and we need him to spearhead our attack next season.

“Kabir has already told us that if he remained with the club he would give 100% next season and we know that he will.

“He wants nothing more than to be out in the middle as it is only out there he can regain his England place, which is his and the club’s prime motivation.”

Kabir, who has won one Test and 14 one-day international caps, took just 11 wickets in four LV= County Championship games in a season wrecked by hamstring and back problems.

However, the news will be welcomed by Worcestershire fans who saw their side relegated to the Second Division of the championship, and wicketkeeper Steven Davies and off-spinner Gareth Batty leave for Surrey.

Newton suggested that the possibility of Kabir leaving should not be discounted completely when he added: “All lines of communication remain open.”

But the news that Hampshire are on the verge of signing Simon Jones, who was released by Worcestershire at the end of the season, looks to have put paid to any hope Kabir had of moving to the south coast.