Former Worcestershire batsman investigated by police
Former Worcestershire batsman Adrian Shankar is being investigated by police over suggestions that he may have provided false information to obtain a contract with the county.
By Paul Bolton 4:39PM BST 27 May 2011
Shankar was signed by Worcestershire on a two-year deal only two weeks ago but that deal and his registration were terminated on Thursday.
Worcestershire have declined to comment on the reasons for Shankar’s abrupt departure but a West Mercia Police spokesman confirmed: “We have been informed by West Mercia Police about this issue and the information has been passed to officers which is now being looked at.” No charges have been made.
A West Mercia Police statement said: “We have been informed by Worcestershire County Cricket Club about this issue and the information has been passed to officers which is now being looked at.”
At the centre of the police investigation will be Shankar’s alleged participation in matches in Sri Lanka last winter which Worcestershire claimed had persuaded them to sign him.
But details of any matches in the mercantile league competition are missing from all reputable cricket websites.
There is also confusion about Shankar’s age. Worcestershire were led to believe that was 26, but most cricket publications clearly state that he was born on May 7 1982.
Much of Shankar’s cricketing career is shrouded in mystery. What is beyond dispute is that he played for Cambridge University from 2002 to 2005 and was on Lancashire’s staff in 2009 and 2010 without making a first team appearance.
He put himself up for offer at last winter’s IPL auction at a price of £20,000 but went unsold. Worcestershire signed Shankar without seeing him bat in a second team game and they pitched him straight into their first team.
He was dismissed for a third ball duck in last week’s CB40 defeat by Middlesex at Lord’s then batted 20 overs for a defiant unbeaten 10 on his County Championship debut against Durham before he damaged a knee in the warm-up the following morning and took no further part in the match.
Shankar’s registration with Bedfordshire, for whom he played Minor Counties cricket in 2006, has also been terminated on the instructions of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
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