Cricket: Scottish Saltires set to increase pool of professional players

THE Scottish Saltires are set to increase their pool of professional players when they announce a new round of contracts this week. They have one space to fill after Forfarshire’s Matty Parker was ordered to give up bowling due to a hip problem.

However, it’s understood three players could join the pro ranks, taking the total to nine. Watsonians’ Ewan Chalmers, rated one of the most naturally gifted batsmen in the country, is a front-runner.

Others in the running include Arbroath all-rounder Calvin Burnett and 26-year-old former Durham leg-spinner Moneeb Iqbal, who impressed coaches after returning to the squad during the World T20 qualifiers in Dubai earlier this year.