Kabir permitted to speak to rivals

Fast bowler Kabir Ali has been scuppered by injury this year, and may leave Worcestershire in search of pastures new

Worcestershire have granted their fast bowler Kabir Ali permission to speak to other counties until September 30.

At a board meeting last night, the county also announced that Kabir has turned down a proposed new three-year contract.

Kabir, 28, the England paceman, told the club this week of his desire to explore other options, despite having a year left on his current Worcestershire contract.

The county, who are bottom of LV= County Championship Division One, are already resigned to losing England one-day wicketkeeper Steve Davies and spinner Gareth Batty at the end of the campaign after the pair signed three-year contracts with Surrey.

Kabir, from Birmingham, has been with the county for a decade and has taken more than 400 first-class wickets.

Hamstring and back problems have restricted Kabir to just two championship matches during the current season. Worcestershire have not won a championship match without him since 2006.