Munaf move scuppered by India

3:54pm Tuesday 8th July 2008

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MUNAF Patel was on the verge of signing for Worcestershire but the move floundered after the paceman was today named in India’s squad for the forthcoming three-Test tour of Sri Lanka.

Chief executive Mark Newton revealed the New Road club held talks with the Rajasthan Royals bowler and he had expressed his desire to replace Steve Magoffin, who returns to Australia on Thursday, as the County’s overseas player.

“We showed an interest in signing Munaf and he had certainly shown an interest in joining us but that won’t be happening now.”

Mark Newton

However, after 24-year-old Munaf’s international call-up, the deal is now dead in the water and it means Worcestershire will go into Thursday’s LV County Championship Division Two clash at home to Northamptonshire without an overseas player.

Newton admitted the club had failed in their bid to sign someone in time.

He said: “Certainly, we won’t have anyone in place as an overseas player in time for Thursday’s game. We have been holding discussions with Munaf Patel but that has come to nothing now he has been selected for India’s Test series with Sri Lanka.

“We showed an interest in signing Munaf and he had certainly shown an interest in joining us but that won’t be happening now.

“So we are now back to where we have been for some time. We are certainly making plenty of phone calls and will look to get someone in as soon as possible.”

Western Australia quick Magoffin proved a successful signing but was summoned by former County director of cricket Tom Moody for pre-season training Down Under.

Munaf, who has taken 28 wickets in nine Tests and 34 in 28 one-day internationals for India, would have been an ideal replacement for Magoffin but Worcestershire will have to go back to the drawing board.

Newton added the County will widen their overseas hunt to include spin bowlers as well as seamers.

He added: “The cost, availability and work permit issues that are associated with signing overseas players nowadays makes things difficult.

“We are definitely still looking to sign a seam bowler but we might consider bringing in a spinner instead.”