Hooper on hold with
Lancashire signing

LONDON: Former West Indies captain Carl Hooper has hit a snag in his attempt to sign with the English County Lancashire.

The club’s bid to sign the 36-year-old Hooper as a temporary replacement for India’s Harbhajan Singh has been stalled by a registration problem.

While replacements are allowed for overseas players who are on international duty, they are not permitted as cover for injury and the matter has been referred to a registration hearing with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) next Tuesday.

Hooper left the Caribbean on Tuesday evening for England, eager to play cricket for Lancashire.

Before boarding his flight to England, he said he was “excited about going to play some cricket” and was hoping “things go well”.

Hooper, replaced by Brian Lara as West Indies captain, withdrew from the West Indies team to face Australia only three days before the first Cable and Wireless Test against Australia in Guyana.

He was expected to spend five weeks at Lancashire, holding the overseas player’s spot while Singh recovers from a finger injury and was hoping to play Lancashire’s weekend match against Middlesex that started Friday at Lord’s.

Lancashire had an impressive start, closing at 366 for three — after electing to bat — with Australian Stuart Law not out on 143 and Mark Chilton on 106 in a 246-run unfinished fourth-wicket stand.