Kabir blow for Pears

Worcestershire have suffered another major injury setback with paceman Kabir Ali ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.

The England paceman, named in the provisional squad of 30 for the Twenty20 World Cup, could be out of action until the start of June.

Worcestershire are already resigned to being without Kabir's new-ball partner Simon Jones for two months after he underwent further knee surgery last week.

Kabir, who took 59 championship wickets last season, sustained the problem during the Friends Provident Trophy clash with Hampshire at The Rose Bowl last Sunday.

Scans have revealed that Kabir has suffered a tear to his left hamstring.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes confirmed: "The results are actually better than we expected but Kabir has got a small tear in his left hamstring.

"It is likely to keep him out of action for four to six weeks.

"That should hopefully mean that for the second half of the season, we will have both Kabir and Simon Jones fresh and raring to go."

It is not the scenario the Pears were looking for in trying to establish themselves in Division One of the LV County Championship after gaining promotion last season.

Kabir and Jones took 101 championship wickets between them in 2008 and their absence puts a bigger responsibility on Australian paceman Ashley Noffke who is the county's overseas player.