Date-stamped : 10 Jun94 - 18:26 Mushtaq's departure deepens gloom - By Barrie Fairall Flamin June? Flaming heck. As if things are not bad enough al- ready for Somerset, rooted at the foot of the table with four de- feats in their first four matches, yesterday's washout against Hampshire here added to the glum news that Mushtaq Ahmed will only be available for three further Championship matches. Pakistan have extended their tour of Sri Lanka later this summer with a series of one-day games, so the 23-year-old leg- spinner will not be available for his county after 8 July. Even that is an improvement on the situation, the Pakistan board having sought the player's release a week earlier for pre- tour training. Somerset had expected to lose Mushtaq, but now the tour does not finish until 17 September and the county are furious. ''We were told he would be leaving us in the last week of July, would be away throughout August and back with us for September's Champion- ship matches,'' Peter Anderson, Somerset's chief executive, said. ''Had we known that from the start we probably would not have em- ployed him.'' Mushtaq is in the second season of a three-year contract and be- cause of Test and County Cricket Board regulations relating to tours outside this country, Somerset cannot take on another over- seas player. ''We're stuck with the problem,'' Anderson said, ''and Lancashire are in the same situation with Wasim Akram.'' Somerset had protested to the Pakistan Board, he added. ''We in- formed them that unless they gave us assurances that it won't happen in future, we will not be retaining Mushtaq next year.'' Lancashire are trying to have the regulations amended. ''We shall be supporting them,'' Anderson said. Somerset's problems are also compounded by injuries, the main one being the shoulder damage affecting Andrew Cad dick, who has missed the last three Championship games. The England bowler un- derwent exploratory surgery in London yesterday and said: ''I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it is nothing more serious than a tendon problem.'' (Thanks : The Independent) Contributed by Vicky (VIGNESWA@*umass.edu) ====> MORE MUDDLE OVER MUSHTAQ STIRS UP SOMERSET Somerset have been left seething by the news that they will lose their Pakistan leg-spinner, Mushtaq Ahmed, from the start of July because of commitments for his country that have taken Somerset completely by surprise. They are so angry that they have faxed the Pakistan Cricket Board and written letters of complaint to the International Cricket Council and the TCCB. They are also planning to support Lan- cashire - who similarly stand to be without Wasim Akram - in a bid to change the regulations about overseas players and un- scheduled demands by their own countries. At a time when Somerset are still looking for their first win in any competition, and when they are short of front-line bowlers, the looming absence of Mushtaq is a considerable blow. Their director of cricket, Bob Cottam, said last night: 'This is dread- fully frustrating. If we'd known, we would have had to think dif- ferently.' Mushtaq took 85 wickets for Somerset in 1993, his first season of county cricket. He thrilled the Taunton crowds, and in terms of overseas players his entertaining variety of skilful wicket- taking deliveries made him one of the genuine coups of the sea- son. He has been rather less effective this year, but has still been Somerset's most successful bowler. Their chief executive, Peter Anderson, said: 'We were told origi- nally that Pakistan would need him for their Sri Lanka tour from the last week in July, but that he would be available again for us in September. Had we known what was going to happen we wouldn't have employed him.' Mushtaq, in whom Somerset made a substantial investment when he joined them on a three-year contract, will miss nine championship matches. As he left the ground yesterday after play had been abandoned for the day, he said: 'It's very unfortunate. Things like this need to be sorted out in advance, in fairness to Somer- set.' He will play just three more championship matches this season, because Pakistan's agreement to take part in an additional one- day tournament at the end of their tour has thrown out the calcu- lations and needs of both Somerset and Lancashire. Somerset are demanding assurances from Pakistan that this will not happen again. If there is any uncertainty, Mushtaq's links with Somerset could be broken. Meanwhile, main new-ball bowler Andy Caddick, aged 25, had keyhole surgery on his shoulder yesterday for the tendon strain which has ruled him out of Test consideration. (Thanks : The Observer) Contributed by Vicky (VIGNESWA@*umass.edu)