Visa delays scupper plans for Mujeeb Ur Rahman to join Middlesex

Instead, Chris Green will remain with the county for the remainder of their Blast campaign

Chris Green will remain with Middlesex for the remainder of the T20 Blast after delays in obtaining a visa scuppered plans for Mujeeb Ur Rahman to join the county.

Mujeeb was initially due to arrive for the start of the competition in late May. Following visa delays, that arrangement was then pushed back for Mujeeb to join up with Middlesex at the conclusion of Afghanistan's white-ball series against Zimbabwe, at which point Green was enlisted for the first half of the tournament.

But following further delays, both parties have been forced to admit defeat.

"We've had to draw a line under Mujeeb coming over this year," said Alan Coleman, Middlesex's head of men's performance cricket.

"Mujeeb has done all he can to get here. Through no fault of his own, with the visa situation across the world at the moment, it has put a delay on him getting here, and one he has not been able to overcome."

Meanwhile, South African batter Pieter Malan is set to arrive in time for Middlesex's LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire, which begins on June 26.

^{Pieter Malan will make his Middlesex debut against Nottinghamshire (Stu Forster/Getty Images)}

Malan has joined as a replacement for Peter Handscomb, whose departure from the club was confirmed following Middlesex's win over Durham at the end of May. He is on Australia A duty in Sri Lanka, before returning home ahead of the birth of his child.

Middlesex lost their grip on top spot by losing against Derbyshire on Tuesday, with Malan not featuring at Chesterfield. Coleman explained that his absence was caused by regulations that only allow counties to have three overseas players each registered at once.

At the time of his signing, it was still hoped that Mujeeb would be able to fulfil his contract, while both Green and Jason Behrendorff were also registered for the Blast.

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