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Leicestershire decide against Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf, the former Pakistan batsman, will not sign for Leicestershire after failing to agree personal terms.

Mohammad Yousuf wanted a month's break from cricket to fast during Ramazan  •  AFP

Mohammad Yousuf wanted a month's break from cricket to fast during Ramazan  •  AFP

Mohammad Yousuf, the former Pakistan batsman, will not sign with Leicestershire after failing to agree to personal terms.
Yousuf, 37, wanted Leicestershire to allow him time off for the month of Ramazan, for him to fast, but the county were concerned about losing Yousuf for four of the 16 County Championship matches.
"We have been in talks for several weeks," Leicestershire chief executive, Mike Siddall, told the Leicester Mercury. "Unfortunately, a problem arose this week which, between us, we could not solve. We are disappointed and are now looking at other options."
Warwickshire also ran into problems when they signed Yousuf last season. They failed in their attempts to persuade him to stay for the second half of the season with Yousuf not wanting to play one-day cricket and also wanting to miss cricket for Ramazan.
The news is another blow to Leicestershire who lost both England Lions' captain James Taylor and left-arm bowler Harry Gurney to Nottinghamshire. They also signed Martin van Jaarsveld from Kent, before he decided to retire from county cricket, and Andrew McDonald is unable to rejoin the county because of visa problems.