There's some mention of Rana in the AGM papers. I know it's dangerous to read between the lines, but i did sense a certain lack of enthusiasm for Rana in the comments by Moxon who seemed to prefer to focus on our own home produced quicks. I just hope that if Rana isn't returning we don't dash out and pay a fortune for a second rate South African/Australian who blocks up the route to the first team for our second string players.
If Rana doesn't return - lets use it as an opportunity for development and consistency of selection...
"Yorkshire will not be seeking to recruit a Twenty20 Cup overseas replacement for Rana and will instead provide increased 1st Team chances for the existing squad."
This bit is particular annoying, how pathetic and not to mention arrogant of the club to go without an overseas player for the Twenty20, if we're not prepared to take the competition seriously then I won't be going to any of the matches. EVERY other side will be using their O/S player some will be making specialist signings and yet we still live in the dark ages.
They seem to think we will turn up to the T20 regardless of whether we are competitive or not, we have an opportunity to make a specialist twenty20 signing who would greatly improve our chances of winning but decide not to, where's the logic in that?
CHEAPSKATES ........ you might be able to tell I'm slightly annoyed.
"Yorkshire claim they have clarified the situation with the Champions League organisers and that they will be free to participate in it as long as Naved-ul-Hasan does not play in any Twenty20 matches. However, IPL sources told Cricinfo that the rules, which would be officially released next week, remain the same as they were last year (if ICL players play in ANY competition then that team will be banned from the CL) on this issue."
20/20 is essentially a bloody lottery anyway! Why spend tens of thousands on a player who could be caught on the boundary after two balls or get slogged for 25 runs off his over. 20/20 is a truly democratic game - it makes everyone look ordinary.....
Do we really need an overseas player ... we've already Rudolph, Kruis & Brophy (yes I know Brophy is now 'England qualified' but he's still a Lurpac in my eyes). As Moxon says we made the quarter finals last year without an overseas pro ... so lets just be treble certain that everyone's paper work is in order
I'm certainly in two minds. His dodgy attitude and tendency to get injured is not to my liking; and lets face it there are better overseas options out there. He's another player who needs to improve and contribute more if we are to contend. A mistake, for sure!
Rana is far from ideal and I wonder what his motivation will be considering he's almost guaranteed to be gone after this year.
Still, he may prove to be useful and on his day will make our pace attack and lower order batting a little more robust, especially if Bresnan and Rashid are snapped up by England.
I'm all for bringing in the right overseas players but T20 seems to be a good fit for the kids. It puts an onus on fielding and athleticism, something expensive veterans may lack, and the nature of the shortened version of the game allows the young players to be put in pressure situations without there being too much at stake.
At least we are all clear as to what is happening this season now. Rana looks like he has some form in the games he has played in Pakistan in the winter and if he is fully fit at start of season for us then he should be better than last year. Hopefully a better captain than Gough will get more out of him as well.
I am sure come the T20 we will be looking for who is available as a short term mercenary overseas signing - the simple fact now is that we have no idea who will be available, not ICL contracted and a strengthening of our team.
Why can't we take a gamble like the Aussies did with Warner and give some local unknown a chance instead? Perhaps the club will hold a charity auction for us all to bid for a place in the team instead of the overseas player?
Could the attitudes of the two clubs be any different? Sadly I know who I'll be backing to go further in the T20 ........... and all the other comps as well.
Well I think I might recognise Warner better than some of the reserves or academy players we are going to have to play if we don't sign an overseas player.
At this rate we may as well play Rana and try and win the domestic competition rather than go in without an overseas player and be the whipping boys - ot have we now as a club decided to return to the 70s and take the moral high ground and not select overseas players again? We all know how unsuccessful we were as a result.
Sorry but if everyone else has a T20 'overseas star' and we don't then our chances will be negligible, crowds will be even smaller and our revenue stream will be reduced.
Watch this space - I am sure we will sign someone before the T20 no matter what Moxon and the committee tell us now. It could even be a long shot option like Warne or Gilchrist who will be over for the Ashes in a non-playing capacity
"Watch this space - I am sure we will sign someone before the T20 no matter what Moxon and the committee tell us now."
I also think it's very possible, that's part of what annoys me. It's either foolish or arrogant to declare so early that we are going without one.
Signing a Marquee T20 specialist player for a month will probably pay for itself with the extra tickets sold and (fingers crossed) progressing further in the tournament.