THE saga of Worcestershire's controversial NatWest Trophy clash with Gloucestershire looks set to drag on until at least tomorrow night.

The County's fate in the competition has been thrown in doubt following Gloucestershire's claim that young paceman Kabir Ali was ineligible to play against them in last Wednesday's third round clash at New Road.

Worcestershire secretary Mike Vockins and chairman John Elliott are now expected to put the County's case in person at a meeting at Lord's following close of play tomorrow in the Test match between England and the West Indies.

The rumpus surrounds 19-year-old rookie Kabir appearing for the Worcestershire Cricket Board against their Kent counterparts at Kidderminster's Chester Road headquarters on May 2 in the first round of the Trophy.

The England and Wales Cricket Board's management committee met yesterday to discuss the controversy, but felt they could not reach a decision until they had considered Worcestershire's case in person.

Kabir took 2-45 in the game which the County won by three wickets, sealing a fourth round trip to Leicestershire next Wednesday.

The County believe that any breach of regulations is only "technical" and claim to have raised the issue with the ECB before allowing Kabir and reserve wicketkeeper James Pipe to represent the Board Xl.

Worcestershire drafted in spinner Matthew Rawnsley for his first County Championship Division Two match of the season for their game against Glamorgan which opened at Swansea today.

It follows his appearance for the County in their four-wicket defeat against New Zealand 'A' at New Road last Monday.

There was no place for paceman Alamgir Sheriyar who was in the County's original 12-strong squad.

Kadeer Ali, the younger cousin of Kabir, was called up for his Championship debut.

Glamorgan won the toss and elected bat, with Steve James and Matt Elliott opening the innings against the pace threat of Australian star Glenn McGrath and Kabir.

Both batsmen were in wat-chful mood early on with James the more dominant.

He soon began to slot into a boundary-hitting groove and moved past the 20 mark with three fours to his credit.

After 12 overs determined James and Elliott had safely taken their partnership into the thirties.

Worcs: E.J. Wilson, Kadeer Ali, V.S. Solanki, R.C. Driver, D.A. Leatherdale, S.J. Rhodes, R.K. Illingworth, Kabir Ali, G.D. McGrath, M.J. Rawnsley.