Worcestershire Rapids have received a massive boost with Colin Munro given permission by New Zealand Cricket to play in next Saturday's NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final with Surrey Lions at the Kia Oval – subject to the Black Caps not suffering an injury crisis.
Munro was due to join up with New Zealand for their 'A' tour of England and Scotland after last night's final North Group clash with Derbyshire Falcons at New Road.
But the Rapids have been given the green light to play Munro against Surrey – subject to New Zealand not being struck by a series of injury setbacks as they have a warm-up game next Saturday against Warwickshire at Edgbaston for their triangular series with England Lions and Sri Lanka 'A'.
His availability would greatly bolster the Rapids chances of reaching their first ever finals day in the competition.
Rapids Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes said: "What I can tell you is that New Zealand Cricket understand our cause and they think it would be a good idea if Colin could play in the quarter-final for us.
"We are very grateful to them for thinking that way. They could easily have said no.
"They understand we've had a long campaign to qualify and they also understand that in a knockout quarter-final that it would be great for us to have him with us.
"The proviso is they are not short on players, ie: injuries galore.
"In theory they are going to release him to play which is great news but we won't know for definite until right up to the verge of the match. They will want to check their situation with fit players.
"But we are very grateful to New Zealand Cricket for at least making that option available to us."
Munro has been one of the Rapids key and most exciting players with his unusual but effective stroke play and he is their second highest scorer in the T20 Blast behind skipper Daryl Mitchell with 327 runs.
Mitchell said: "Colin has been great for us. He is just so different. That is the key especially when he has been coming in at number four in those middle overs.
"It has been very difficult for the spinners to bowl at him. He has lost his wicket a couple of times but he hits the ball in very peculiar areas.
"You need to set different fields to him and he is very difficult to defend against.
"He has been a real positive to us and a real plus. He has been a real asset to us."
