Rana gets Yorkshire all-clear

27 March 2008

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has been given the all-clear to play for Yorkshire © Getty Images

Pakistani seamer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has been cleared to play for Yorkshire this season.

The 30-year-old signed a deal with the county late last year, but his decision to join a rebel twenty20 league aroused fears that the Pakistan Cricket Board would not allow him to fulfil his contract.

Yorkshire have now confirmed that Rana will be available this summer, although South Africa pace bowler Morne Morkel has been signed as cover for his early-season absence.

A Yorkshire statement read: “The Yorkshire County Cricket Club has now received confirmation that Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has been registered as a Yorkshire player for the 2008 cricket season.

“This registration is subject to Rana obtaining a valid work permit, which, given his previous spells at Sussex, is not expected to be a problem."

Morkel will remain at Headingley Carenegie until Rana “fully satisfies the club that he is able to bowl, bat, throw and field effectively without any aggravation to his shoulder”.

Rana, who helped Sussex to the LV County Championship title last summer, said: “I made many friends in the county when I played club cricket a few years ago and I am really looking forward to pulling on a Yorkshire shirt. I will give everything I have for my county.”

Yorkshire coach Martyn Moxon added: “Rana has always been a player I’ve thought very highly of and I am extremely relieved and pleased that he will be with us this year.

“We are conscious that he needs time to fully recover from his shoulder injury, but a fully fit Rana will be a huge boost for the club.

“He has proved in India recently that he can bowl and take wickets but we want to be satisfied that he can also cope with the demands of fielding, especially throwing, before we play him in the first XI.”