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Page last updated at 18:38 GMT, Thursday, 14 January 2010

Worcestershire seek solution to Kabir Ali dispute

Worcestershire

Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton says he hopes to resolve Kabir Ali's future at the club quickly.

Kabir, 28, is under contract with Worcestershire for another season but says he wants to join Hampshire.

"We have a board meeting on Monday when we will discuss the situation and hope to bring finality to it," Newton told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"Kabir has made his position absolutely clear despite discussions we have had and we have to make the decision."

Worcestershire have said the bowler can only leave New Road if they are paid compensation amounting to £60,000, but Kabir has so far not reported back for winter training with the rest of the squad.

Newton insists the club will still require compensation, but says the amount could be negotiable.

"You can be pedantic but it is not worth it in the long run," he said.

"He's a highly valued player and we very much want Kabir to remain at Worcester but he clearly has other plans.

"So we have got to rethink and move on from there so there's always room for negotiation," he added.

Should Kabir get his wish to leave New Road, Newton says money would become available, but he added that the side are in no hurry to further strengthen the squad.

"Inevitably there is going to be budget available but we have absolutely no plans to do that at the moment," he said.

"Steve Rhodes has put together a younger squad and there are a lot of very good young seam bowlers within that squad.

"The other thing to take into account is availability and the level of available quality seam bowlers in England at the moment is not great.

"That is one of the reasons why we wanted to keep Kabir in the first place. We have no plans at the moment, but if anything comes available then we would have the funds to do something about it."



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see also
Worcs firm on Kabir compensation
21 Oct 09 |  Worcestershire
Kabir 'accepts' Hampshire offer
02 Oct 09 |  Worcestershire
Rhodes hopeful about Worcs future
05 Oct 09 |  Worcestershire


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