Hampshire are more hopeful Shane Bond can play for them next month.

Bond's move to Hampshire for the first eight weeks of the season became doubtful when New Zealand Cricket decided not to issue the required no-objection certificate' after he signed for the rebel Indian Cricket League.

But Hampshire are currently negotiating a no-objection certificate' with New Zealand Cricket that they hope will result in the ECB registering Bond for the forthcoming county season.

Hampshire's hopes were raised when Yorkshire fast bowler Rana Naved was registered by the ECB this week.

The Pakistan Cricket Board finally agreed to issue the former Sussex man with a no-objection certificate' despite his involvement in the current ICL.

Managing director Glenn Delve said: "Now that Rana has been registered we are more hopeful than we were.

"We're in contact with the New Zealand Cricket Board via e-mail and are just trying to agree on the right wording so that the ECB find the no-objection certificate' agreeable."

Sussex are confident that Mushtaq Ahmed will also be registered by the ECB in time for the start of their Championship defence at the Rose Bowl as, like Rana Naved, he has now received a no-objection certificate' from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Delve added: "Shane is in a similar position to Mushy and Rana so we're seeing some light."

Hampshire are also in negotiations with Alan Fordham, the ECB's head of operations, to ensure the no-objection certicate' from New Zealand Cricket is accepted, having already had one rejected.