Ajmal steps back as Worcestershire gamble on Gabriel

LONDON: Worcestershire have replaced their overseas star Saeed Ajmal with West Indies pace bowler Shannon Gabriel in a late toss of the dice intended to save their First Division status.
Ajmal’s impact has been limited since he was forced to remodel an illegal action and he has only taken only 16 wickets at 48.50 in a season in which three Worcestershire seam bowlers - Jack Shantry, Joe Leach and Chjarlie Morris - have carried a heavy workload.
Ajmal will return to Pakistan after the clash with Sussex at New Road next week, subject to the granting of a No Objection Certificate from the West Indies Cricket Board, leaving Gabriel free to step in away to Durham and at home to Middlesex.
Worcestershire, second bottom, lie four points behind Sussex, with Somerset a further nine points ahead.
Gabriel, 27, has played 14 Tests for the West Indies and made his debut against England at Lord’s three years ago. He has taken 32 wickets for his country at an average of 35.81 and was part of the Windies side which took on Australia in June ahead of the Ashes. He has most recently been playing for St. Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League.
He is the latest amongst several West Indies international players to play for Worcestershire in recent years including Kemar Roach in 2011 and Andre Russell in 2013.
Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: “We are hoping with the extra pace he has, a 90 miles an hour bowler, he will just give us something slightly different. We are looking forward to him playing a part for the last two matches and hopefully making a difference.
“It is not easy for any bowler just coming in for two games but if you are looking for someone who can make an impact as a strike bowler, then Shannon is an ideal man.
“I’ve admired his pace and he has played in some games where he has bowled quicker balls in the day than Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc so that is testament to what pace he has got.
“We just hope he can repeat some of that in the Championship fixtures. The ball tends to move around a bit at Durham so that we might be a good option there and we will see what we’ve got at Worcester for the last game.”