WORCESTERSHIRE skipper Vikram Solanki would like to see a solution to whether Kabir Ali will remain at New Road next season or not.

The 28-year-old strike bowler has made his intention to leave the County this winter well known with Hampshire his desired destination.

But with a £60,000 compensation fee required to release him from the final year of his contract the situation could drag on throughout the winter.

Club officials believe the matter is now over as the compensation figure has not been met and counties now need Wor-cestershire’s permission to speak to the wantaway bowler.

The likelihood of Kabir remaining at New Road past next season is remote, but Solanki is adamant that his number one quick bowler will give his all should he stay next year.

“Ideally we would like to have had it resolved by now,” he said. “We would certainly like it resolved in the near future.

“Kabir and I are very good friends and I know, and I can be 100 per cent on this, that if he does stay then he will be the exact same Kabir I have known and played a lot of cricket with for the past 10 years.”

The skipper is also keen to see the wicketkeeper position re-solved as well.

Worcestershire saw Steve Davies depart for Surrey at the end of last season, while they also released Josh Knappett.

Seventeen-year-old Ben Cox, who made his first-class debut at Somerset in September, has recently signed a four-year contract with the club, but he will be unable to start the campaign as he will still be at Bromsgrove School.

Worcestershire have opted against making a move for released Gloucestershire gloveman Steve Adshead and Solanki feels, whoever comes in must be able to aid the development of Cox.

“We do need a wicketkeeper, but it isn’t going to be me so let’s not jump to conclusions there,” said Solanki, who kept wicket for England in the 2007 World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa.

“With Ben signing a four-year contract we must be careful with the appointment we make. It needs to be someone who isn’t going to hinder Ben’s development.

“There is a possibility that we could loan someone for the start of the season and then Ben could come in.

“We could also sign somebody straight away, there are plenty of candidates that we could choose from, but what is vital is that we have the right person.”