Rana remains with Yorkshire

24 February 2009

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan did not play in last season's Twenty20 Cup due to injury

Yorkshire have announced Pakistan fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan will continue to play as the county’s overseas player this summer, in all competitions except the Twenty20 Cup.

The announcement comes after the White Rose said they have received confirmation they would not be barred from the Twenty20 Champions League should they field the 30-year-old, who has links with a rebel Twenty20 league, in other domestic competitions.

This year’s Twenty20 Cup finalists are due to play in the Champions League after the postponement of what was set to be the inaugural competition, due to the Mumbai terror attacks last November.

Last season’s Twenty20 Cup runners-up, Kent Spitfires, had been barred from the tournament for fielding players with rebel Twenty20 links. However, it appears the tournament organisers have now softened their stance.

Rana’s original move to Yorkshire a year ago had also been in doubt due to his rebel links and he only made 15 appearances for the county last term due to a shoulder injury sustained in 2007 playing for Sussex.

Yorkshire will not seek to recruit a overseas replacement for Rana, who is on a two-year contract, in the Twenty20 Cup.

Yorkshire director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon said: “I’m very pleased that this issue has been resolved and look forward to working with Rana again in 2009.

“He has been playing domestic cricket in Pakistan during the winter and is match fit and raring to go. Rana will rejoin the squad when we return from our pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi and will be a key figure in our plans for the 2009 season.

“The lack of an overseas player in the domestic Twenty20 Cup does not overly concern me. We performed well in Twenty20 last year when Rana was unavailable due to injury.

“I’ve every confidence that our squad is strong enough to do well in the competition this season without an overseas player - it’s a great chance for someone else to put their hand up and stake a claim.”