WORCESTERSHIRE fear they have lost out on Australian seamer Ashley Noffke.

The New Road outfit have made informal enquiries about the availability of the 30-year-old Queenslander, but chief executive Mark Newton believes the former Gloucestershire man will not be heading to the 2007 NatWest Pro40 champions.

Noffke has been one of the leading lights in the Pura Cup this term with only former Worcestershire seamer Doug Bollinger ahead of him in the number of wickets taken.

Noffke has 31 wickets in six matches compared to Bollinger's 34 in five, but the Queenslander is also one of this year's competition leading run scorers with 549 at an average of 54.90.

It has been his form in the Pura Cup that brought him to the attention of Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes.

Newton said: "Noffke was a real interest to us. He is one of a number of players that we have made tentative enquiries about, but I believe that we are no longer in the running for him."

Newton also confirmed the County have made enquiries about Noffke's compatriot Steve Magoffin, but the chief executive says they are still no closer in securing their overseas player for the new campaign.

Western Australian right-arm seamer Magoffin has taken 25 Pura Cup wickets this term in six matches.

Worcestershire have become linked with a number of Australian bowlers in recent weeks following Rhodes' link-up with former County director of cricket Tom Moody.

"Steve has been talking to Tom about the form players in Australia at the moment, but nothing is imminent at present," Newton said.

The New Road chief executive also said the County have not approached Abdul Razzaq about a return to Worcestershire after he spent one-month there at the end of last term.

The Pakistan all-rounder played in the rebel Indian Cricket League last year after he was snubbed by the Pakistan Cricket Board for the ICC Twenty20 World Championships.

The 28-year-old announced his retirement from international cricket last August but has since reconciled with the PCB and retracted his retirement.

Newton added: "We haven't spoken to Abdul but, now he is back in the Pakistan fold, we assume that he is under the same restrictions as their other internationals."