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Pakistani cleared for Yorkshire

Image: Naved-ul-Hasan: Set for return to England

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan will be able to turn out for Yorkshire this season despite signing for the unsanctioned ICL.

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Naved-ul-Hasan will be able to play in England

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan will be able to turn out for Yorkshire this season despite signing for the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League (ICL). The 30-year-old Pakistani seamer played for Sussex in 2007, but it had been feared the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could refuse Rana entry to the English County Championship. But protracted discussions between the county, the PCB and the England and Wales Cricket Board have finally reaped reward. "The last few weeks have been very complicated for the club," Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan said. "We have tried hard to cope with the conflicting feedback received in relation to whether this player could join us in 2008 given his participation in the unauthorised ICL. "I'm extremely pleased that this now appears to be behind us and we look forward to welcoming Rana to Headingley in early April when he will join up with the rest of the squad."

Injury

The right-arm seamer, who suffered a shoulder injury playing for Sussex against Durham last season, still needs to obtain a valid work permit but that should be a formality and he is pleased to have finally resolved his future. "I have maintained throughout the last few weeks that I would be allowed to play cricket for Yorkshire and that my participation in the ICL would not get in the way of that dream," Rana said. "I am not contracted to the Pakistan Cricket Board and could not see why they should wish to prevent me from playing the game I love in Yorkshire. "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." South African paceman Morne Morkel will take up the club's overseas position until Rana fully recovers from his shoulder injury though. Veteran Pakistani spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has also been cleared to play for Sussex despite his involvement with the ICL.

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