(Photo: Getty Images)
By Harvey Burgess
England youngster Haseeb Hameed has withdrawn from the MCC fixture’s against Middlesex next month to undergo a sinus operation.
Traditionally the MCC open the season with a one-off match against the County Champions, in this case Middlesex, but Hameed will not feature.
The 20-year-old made a considerable impression in three Tests against India at the end of last year and has been widely tipped to be an England regular in the near future.
Hameed is currently touring Sri Lanka with the England Lions squad, where he has made scores of 6, 39, 4 and 0 in four innings so far. The Lancashire batsman is intending to play in the second match against Sri Lanka A, which begins tomorrow, before returning to England for surgery.
“It’s something I’ve needed to do for a while, and this is a good time to do it,” said Hameed.
“It’s disappointing to miss the chance to play for the MCC against Middlesex, because it was an honour to be selected,” he continued. “But by having the operation in early March, I will be fit for the start of the season with Lancashire.”
Hameed has been replaced by Alex Lees, the Yorkshire batsman.
MCC Squad: Alex Lees (Yorkshire), Tom Alsop (Hampshire), Sam Northeast (Kent, captain), Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire, England), Joe Clarke (Worcestershire), Ben Cox (Worcestershire), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Matt Coles (Kent), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire, England), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Jack Leach (Somerset)
