Pakistan batting mainstay in Tests, Azhar Ali, might be roped in by Surrey County Club, to replace Virat Kohli, who sustained a neck injury recently.
Further, Ali’s teammate Asad Shafiq might also replace Queensland opener, Matt Renshaw at Somerset. Renshaw was scheduled to feature for Somerset after Cameron Bancroft was handed by a nine-month ban by Cricket Australia (CA).
However, the Surrey spokesperson did not reveal any information of such kind. But, it has to be taken into account that replacement for Virat Kohli has not been named until now.
We’re hoping to get Azhar and Asad to play some county cricket: Arthur
The India all-format skipper was scheduled to play for Surrey in June, to acclimatise for the conditions in England, before his neck injury, sustained during IPL, was diagnosed.
According to his contract, Kohli was scheduled to play three List A and three First-Class games during his stint with the Kia Oval-based county.
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Moreover, with the herniated disc up his spine, Kohli is scheduled to miss the early parts of the English tour, comprising of ODI games against Ireland and England.
“Our chosen players, we’re hoping to get Azhar and Asad to play some county cricket. There is a little bit of interest at the moment. For a short period of time,” Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur quoted, according to Espncricinfo.
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“Because those guys don’t go to these [T20] leagues and stuff. If they were to play county cricket we’d certainly encourage that,” concluded Arthur.
