Rock-bottom Pears lose leading wicket taker for lengthy spell
Worcestershire paceman Kabir Ali is facing up to four weeks on the sidelines despite discovering he does not require back surgery.
The 28-year-old, who missed two months earlier in the season with a hamstring injury, has been out for most of July with a back problem and an initial scan proved inconclusive.
And while the second scan has indicated that he does not require an operation, Kabir is still likely to endure a lengthy lay-off after a pain-killing injection.
Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: "Kabir has previously had a stress fracture in his back, so it is good news he doesn't need surgery.
"It is good and bad news really. Obviously we're happy he'll be back playing cricket again this season, but it is disappointing he'll be out for three to four weeks.
"There will still be a lot of cricket left to play in the season when he returns, with the Pro40 competition and the rest of the County Championship.
"He still has a big part to play this year."
The Pears are currently bottom of the Division One of the LV County Championship.
