If Essex were none too pleased last week when the Indian Cricket Board scuppered Yusuf Pathan’s plans to play for the county in the t20 campaign, there'll be smoke coming out of their ears with the news that the Pakistan board have this week delayed the arrival of Danish Kaneria until the end of April - especially as it’s to allow him to play in a domestic competition.
Kaneria is one of the world’s best bowlers and has been a star performer for Essex since his first stint here in 2004. Last season he claimed 108 wickets in all competitions for the county with 75 of those in the championship including a hat-trick in the last game of the season against Derbyshire which helped clinch promotion to Division One.
In a short statement announcing Kaneria’s delayed arrival, Essex chief exec David East says the news is “disappointing” but behind the scenes the county’s management team must be livid as not only have they lost their most effective bowler for the first month of the season but it is likely Kaneria will also be unavailable for the final three months of the 2010 campaign when he'll be on international duty with Pakistan. This means he’ll only be available for Essex during May and June.
Perhaps most tellingly, Essex coach Paul Grayson says he is “disappointed but not surprised” by the news. The cricket boards of the subcontinent are probably not the most popular organisations with the counties at the moment. Reneging on done deals is never going to make you friends, especially when those same counties have released players for the IPL.
Kaneria is one of the world’s best bowlers and has been a star performer for Essex since his first stint here in 2004. Last season he claimed 108 wickets in all competitions for the county with 75 of those in the championship including a hat-trick in the last game of the season against Derbyshire which helped clinch promotion to Division One.
In a short statement announcing Kaneria’s delayed arrival, Essex chief exec David East says the news is “disappointing” but behind the scenes the county’s management team must be livid as not only have they lost their most effective bowler for the first month of the season but it is likely Kaneria will also be unavailable for the final three months of the 2010 campaign when he'll be on international duty with Pakistan. This means he’ll only be available for Essex during May and June.
Perhaps most tellingly, Essex coach Paul Grayson says he is “disappointed but not surprised” by the news. The cricket boards of the subcontinent are probably not the most popular organisations with the counties at the moment. Reneging on done deals is never going to make you friends, especially when those same counties have released players for the IPL.
A week after the hammer blow of losing the explosive Yusuf for the t20, Essex now faces another search for an overseas player in what is already becoming a “bits and pieces” season where players may have to be drafted in for short stints of a few weeks. And this is before the County Championship even starts this Friday.
For Essex’s management team this must be a real headache. They thought they had the Pathan deal sewn up back in February and were no doubt counting on Kaneria spearheading their start to the season. Now they will look to find a player for all competitions for half of the season as well as one for the annual Twenty20 bonanza. This means a lot of work will have to be done in a short space of time.
After the Pathan deal fell through, David East said: “We’re not just going to go out there and buy anyone, they’ve got to add some value to our team. If there isn’t anyone available that will add value to our team then we won’t do it.”
The problem Essex have is such a player will not only have to add value to the team, he'll need to add dosh to their bank account after their recent statement about last season’s financial losses.
Like it or not, Twenty20 is every team’s biggest money-spinner where a capacity crowd is a minimum requirement for the county’s coffers. And a big name player would certainly help ensure big crowds at the County Ground during the balmy evenings of June and July.
For Essex’s management team this must be a real headache. They thought they had the Pathan deal sewn up back in February and were no doubt counting on Kaneria spearheading their start to the season. Now they will look to find a player for all competitions for half of the season as well as one for the annual Twenty20 bonanza. This means a lot of work will have to be done in a short space of time.
After the Pathan deal fell through, David East said: “We’re not just going to go out there and buy anyone, they’ve got to add some value to our team. If there isn’t anyone available that will add value to our team then we won’t do it.”
The problem Essex have is such a player will not only have to add value to the team, he'll need to add dosh to their bank account after their recent statement about last season’s financial losses.
Like it or not, Twenty20 is every team’s biggest money-spinner where a capacity crowd is a minimum requirement for the county’s coffers. And a big name player would certainly help ensure big crowds at the County Ground during the balmy evenings of June and July.
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