WORCESTERSHIRE have asked the England and Wales Cricket Board to investigate the signing of Adrian Shankar.

The 29-year-old, who had his two-year contract at New Road terminated last week, is also the centre of a West Mercia Police probe over allegations he provided the County with false documents.

When Worcestershire signed the player, who figured in three second XI games for the County in 2003, they claim Shankar told them he was 26, making the New Road club eligible for young player payments from the ECB.

County chairman Martyn Price revealed they have asked ECB investigate their registration procedures following the signing of Shankar and added he fully supported chief executive David Leatherdale and director of cricket Steve Rhodes.

However, with two probes ongoing into the affair, the former Lancashire second XI batsman has also been sacked by his Minor County outfit Bedfordshire at the request of the ECB.

Their president Mike Green said: “We have terminated his contract with us as of Thursday last week on the request of the ECB.

“Frankly, we were amazed when we found out he was signing for Worcestershire because he would have struggled to get into our side.

“He hadn’t been good enough to get into our first XI for a good six or seven years.”