Rana set for Yorkshire exit (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Rana set for Yorkshire exit

7:37pm Tuesday 11th March 2008 in Sport By Bill Marshall

Rana Naved ul-Hasan's future with Yorkshire is in severe doubt after his debut in the rebel Twenty20 Indian Cricket League (ICL) today.

The 30-year-old, pictured, signed a two-year contract at Headingley over the winter after switching from county champions Sussex.

But the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are blocking any players who feature in the ICL from playing in county cricket.

Overseas players can only register for county action with a No Objection Certificate from their home boards, and with all Test-playing nations opposed to the ICL, there will not be one forthcoming from Pakistan.

Yorkshire have told Rana they do not support the ICL and that his participation in the competition is contrary to the club's wishes.

The paceman made his debut for Lahore Badshahs against Chennai Superstars in Chandigarh and was their best bowler, taking two for 19 in four overs, getting the wickets of former Yorkshire player Ian Harvey and Sri Lankan Test player Russel Arnold.

Lahore then won by five wickets off the last ball of the 19th over.

Rana only confirmed his fitness to play for Yorkshire in January after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained for Sussex, and wouldn't have been available for the start of the season anyway.

As a consequence, Yorkshire signed South African pace bowler Morne Morkel as a stop-gap measure until Rana was fit.

However, Morkel is almost certain to be unavailable for Yorkshire in the second half of the season as South Africa are touring England from July onwards.