The Kent side may have a very different look at the beginning of next season. While uncertainty is still hovering, little-bug-in-the-summer-like, over the retention of Martin van Jaarsveld, Justin Kemp and Azhar Mahmood for next year, it's now clear that Yasir Arafat has probably played his last match for the club. The Pakistan fast bowler has decided to return to Sussex.Arafat, 26, left Hove for Canterbury in 2006 and was Kent's leading one-day and Twenty20 bowler with 27 wickets at 17.74. He also picked up 38 Championship wickets.
"Yasir's signing is fantastic news and we are flattered that he is keen to return to Hove," said Mark Robinson, Sussex's manager. "It's further evidence that people who play for the club fall in love with it.
"He's not only an outstanding new and old ball bowler, but a fantastic lower-middle order batsman, who should stand out in both our four and one-day cricket."
In cricketing terms, this is pretty bad news for KCCC: Arafat is a tremendoues one-day player and a wholehearted performer in any form of the game. In terms of the future of the club, however, his departure will probably save some money and, perhaps, allow a homegrown youngster some first-class experience.
3 comments:
Interesting moves - I can't see us doing as well in Twenty20 without Arafat, but realistically, it's the right time to go with youth.
In any sport, players want to compete at the best possible level - Arafat wanted first division cricket so he's gone to where he'll get it.
Would we really be upset if Kemp didn't come back next season?
I'm very late getting to this but just want to say that Yasir did not choose to leave and fully expected to return next season. He has told me himself he is very disappointed that Kent didn't choose to re-sign him and the Club have admitted on the website it was their decision.
I shan't say exactly what I think here of their deluded belief that a player of his ability will be available for an entire season and actually want to come and play for an unfashionable club, newly relegated and cash strapped.
As for Kemp and Azhar, they have shown they give not a hoot for the club, their team-mates or the fans and have effectively stuck their fingers up at us all. I don't want people with that attitude playing for the club I love.
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