KABIR Ali is erring on the side of caution and plans to sit out Worcestershire's 50-over match with the touring West Indies `A' side tomorrow (10.45am).

Kabir has missed the last two Liverpool Victoria County Championship division two games against Gloucestershire and Derbyshire with an intercostal injury -- a strain to the muscle in between his ribs.

As this is an area the England seamer has twice damaged in the past, resulting in considerable lay-offs, he has decided not to risk playing the West Indians in a bid to be fit for the Championship match against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay that starts on Wednesday.

He said: "There isn't much point risking my injury for the West Indies `A' game because if I played and tore the muscle, it would be the end of my season and there are still a lot of important games to come.

"The injury is still a bit tender and it would be silly to play in this match.

"My recovery is going well, though, and hopefully I should be fit for our game with Glamorgan on Wednesday.

"But if it is still not quite right by then, it makes sense to sit out until it is 100 per cent healed."

Last night, Worcestershire were still assessing their line-up for tomorrow's game.

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: "We haven't finalised the team yet as we are waiting to see what work-load people have got through against Derbyshire to decide who will play."

Four Worcestershire players who took part in the England `A' tour to the West Indies earlier in the year -- Vikram Solanki, Gareth Batty, Kabir and Steve Davies -- will be familiar with most of the faces in a strong touring party.

The West Indies `A' squad includes Sylvester Joseph, Tino Best, Ryan Hinds and Sewnarine Chattergoon.

During the game's interval, the crowd will be entertained by a steel band, while rum punch and traditional cuisine will be on offer.