Harbhajan's move to Lancashire called off

Harbhajan Singh's on-off move to Lancashire is finally - officially - off. Lancashire this morning announced they have decided to terminate his contract after another recurrence of the finger injury he has been nursing since the World Cup.

Harbhajan was due to arrive at Old Trafford this afternoon, but his agent contacted Mike Watkinson, the Lancashire coach, and said that after a fitness test on Thursday morning, the injured finger was swollen and painful again.

On hearing the news, Watkinson said: "It's disappointing that Harbhajan won't be joining us, but at least a firm decision has been taken. We wish him well for the future and trust that he will soon be fully recovered."

However, it now means Carl Hooper, who has been standing in for Harbhajan this summer, is likely to sign a contract to play till the end of the season as Lancashire's second overseas player.