WORCESTERSHIRE have secured the services of promising big-hitting batsman Kashif Ali for another three years.

The 26-year-old was into the last year of his contract but will continue with his promising cricket career at New Road.

Kashif was one player who really stood out in 2023 and his incredible knock of 88 off just 36 balls in the Metro Bank One Day Cup against Derbyshire will live long in the memory for Pears supporters.

But now he is hoping to kick on and help Worcestershire cement their place in county cricket's top-flight division.

"I want to keep on improving and believe that can happen at Worcestershire to whom I will always be grateful for giving me a chance in first class cricket," he said,

"The aim is to be at the top of my game and be as consistent as possible in all formats and kick on as much as possible during the next four years.

"But the initial aim is to try and play as big a part as possible in helping the team establish themselves in Division One of the County Championship.

"It was a great effort to go up, and demonstrated what we are capable of, but in fairness we performed well in all formats.

"We played with a positive mindset and I’m sure that will again be the case this season. There are a lot of good teams and players in Division One but we will be up for the challenge."

Kashif became the first member of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to sign a contract for a first-class county when he joined Worcestershire in 2022.

He has made impressive strides forward in red ball and white ball cricket during the past two seasons and demonstrated his huge potential.

As well as that remarkable performance with the bat at the Incora County Ground last summer, he also showed his capabilities in four-day cricket with a superb 93 in the promotion-clinching final game in the County Championship Division Two game against Yorkshire at Headingley.

Kashif's deal will be welcomed news for fans of the club and it follows contract extensions for the likes of club captain, Brett D’Oliveira, opener Jake Libby, pace bowler Adam Finch and all-rounder Joe Leach.

Worcestershire are now just a week away from the 2024 LV=Insurance County Championship season getting underway, when they make the trip to rivals Warwickshire in round one.