Thursday 29 October 2015 10:17, UK
Surrey all-rounder Zafar Ansari will miss the start of England's Performance Programme this winter as he continues his recovery from a dislocated thumb.
The 23-year-old suffered the injury last month while fielding for Surrey against Lancashire hours after being called up for his maiden Test tour - England's ongoing trip to the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan.
National selector James Whitaker explained the thumb on left-arm orthodox Ansari's bowling hand has not healed sufficiently yet for him to take his place on the batting and spin camp in the UAE as initially scheduled.
But Ansari could join up with the party at a later date, Whitaker explained in a press release that announced Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson and Surrey left-arm seamer Mark Footitt as the latest recruits to the EPP.
Dawson will attend the two-and-a-half-week long batting and spin camp in Dubai on November 11, while Footitt will become the eighth member of the fast bowling group due to travel to South Africa on the same date to take part in a 10-day training camp in Potchefstroom.
Whitaker said: "It is unfortunate that Zafar's recovery from injury has not progressed at a rate that would allow him to participate fully in the EPP batting and spin camp in the UAE at present.
"But we will continue to monitor his progress closely and will consider involving him in the later stages of the EPP and Lions programme this winter, once he regains full fitness.
"Ansari's progress will continue to be monitored by a specialist, and his participation with the EPP and Lions programmes later this winter will be reviewed on an ongoing basis."
