Pakistan may cut Ajmal’s county stint for Sri Lanka tour

PCB finalised a two-Test and three one-day match series in Sri Lanka, which is likely to interrupt off-spinner’s stint with Worcestershire for whom he also played in 2011.

Saeed Ajmal has been one of Pakistan's most influential spin bowlers in recent times. Satish Kumar / The National

LAHORE // Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal’s stint with English county Worcestershire may be set for a shorter duration to compensate for his country’s hastily-arranged Test and one-day series against Sri Lanka.

“We are still discussing how much time he (Ajmal) can be away as we now have a scheduled series in Sri Lanka,” Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told Agence France-Presse.

PCB finalised a two-Test and three one-day match series in Sri Lanka, which is likely to interrupt Ajmal’s stint with Worcestershire for whom he also played in 2011.

The series was only finalised on the sidelines of an International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai last week.

The spinner, 36, was due to arrive in the UK for Worcestershire’s first championship game on Sunday, but the county said they were still waiting.

“It’s hugely disappointing,” Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale was quoted as saying by BBC.

“You have to get the PCB no objection certificate (NOC) before he is physically available to play.”

“You are probably only talking about a few days, but we are in the hands of the PCB, who control his commitments. It’s disappointing not to have him here when we had originally hoped.”

Worcestershire have also signed New Zealand paceman Mitchell McClenaghan who was due to replace Ajmal for a six-week period in July and August, when the spinner was due to feature in the Caribbean Premier League.

But Ajmal will now tour Sri Lanka with Pakistan team in that period, making him doubtful for the Caribbean tournament as well.

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