Stayley in race against clock

KAMRAN HUSSAIN . . . awaiting his visa.

CRICKET:

STAYLEY’S hopes of seeing professional Kamran Hussain in the Versasteel Saddleworth and District Cricket League this season are fading.

The impressive player — third in last season’s league’s batting averages — is stuck in Pakistan waiting for a visa.

Stayley captain Ronnie Cameron says it could get to the stage where it will be pointless him coming.

Cameron said: “Kamran could be here any time, we just don’t know. He is booking flights every week but having to cancel them.

“He applied for a visa in March and it should have taken a couple of weeks. But he still hasn’t got it. I know of players who applied after him now here playing cricket. We don’t know what the hold up is.”

Because Hussain has been registered as Stayley’s pro for 2013 and isn’t injured, the club can’t hire a deputy.

Cameron added: “It’s the first round of the Tanner Cup on May 18 and if he isn’t here by then it may not be worth him coming over.”

On the eve of the season the club heard that overseas amateur Ryan Nurse would not be coming because of work commitments in Barbados.

One piece of positive news to come out of Millbrook is the rumoured transfer of all-rounder of Mudassar Butt from Austerlands.