Worcestershire are further strengthening their link with the South Asian Cricket Association (SACA) with the Seconds playing a three-day game against them at Stourbridge this summer.
SACA was set up last winter (2021-2022) to help British Asian players into county cricket after reporting that 30% of recreational players in England and Wales are British Asians but only five per cent are professionals.
Worcestershire were proud to provide SACA with their first ever opposition last season when the Seconds took part in a two-day fixture at Stratford-upon-Avon.
Kashif Ali scored a half century for SACA in that game and became their first graduate to join a first class county when he signed for Worcestershire until the end of the 2022 season.
But he made such a favourable impression at New Road that he soon signed a fresh two year deal for the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
This summer, the Seconds will face SACA at Stourbridge from June 26 to 28.
Kashif Ali said: “SACA is very important for giving British Asians the chance to showcase their talent and I will always be very grateful to them for the opportunity.
“I was very proud when Worcestershire gave me the chance to become the first graduate to sign for a first class county.
“It is great that Worcestershire are continuing to strengthen the link with another fixture this summer.”
Worcestershire Assistant Coach, Richard Jones, said: “I’m very keen to keep that link nice and strong. I’m quite close with Tom Brown, the Director of Cricket there.
“We keep in contract quite regularly about players. SACA has shown the amount of talent out there with Kashif being a good example and the first graduate to sign a pro contract with a first class county.
“Everyone has been really impressed with him. He is a very skilful batter, he showed what he could do last season, but also his off spin is developing very nicely as well.
“He had an incredible run of scores in the Seconds last summer and, if you produce those numbers that consistently, you know you’ve got yourself a really talented player.”
