BCCI gives green signal to Zaheer's county stint

New Delhi, Mar 28 (UNI) BCCI has given its go ahead to left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan to play for Worcestershire where the Baroda seamer was signed up as a replacement for Australian left-arm bowler Nathan Bracken.

Talking to UNI here today, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said, ''We have no problem with it and after he sought the permission, the Board has given him the necessary green signal.'' ''As with everybody, Zaheer has also been told that there is a condition that whenever the country needs him, he has to come back to serve the national team,'' he added.

Presently out of the squad, Zaheer was roped in by the club after Bracken had indicated he may not be available to play for most of the English season.

''The Club has agreed to release him from his contract and is delighted to announce the signing of fellow left armer, Zaheer Khan from India, as his replacement,'' the club had stated in a statement.

The Baroda pacer is expected to be available for the entire season and is likely to join the club in mid-April for the start of the season.

Club's Director of Cricket, Steve Rhodes, said the India was the right replacement.

''Zaheer has had an outstanding domestic season in India and is exactly the type of player we feel will bring variation to our bowling attack,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Shah also informed that the board was finalising the joint Asian bid for the World Cup 2011.

''ICC has extended its deadilne to April 21 for a fresh bid and that gives us some more time to finalise things and we are working on that,'' he added.

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