Northamptonshire have failed in an attempt to sign Sohail Tanvir as their overseas player for the current season.
The 29-year-old seamer was expected to be available for the county soon, but a call-up to Pakistan's training camp means that Northamptonshire remain short of options in the bowling department.
"I'm desperately disappointed. We've had three overseas players signed and none arrived," head coach David Ripley told BBC Radio Northampton.
"It would have been helpful to know this camp was going to take place.
"We got a no objection certificate from the Pakistan Cricket Board and three days later they announced he was in this training camp."
Injuries to Rory Kleinveldt and Jackson Bird prevented Northamptonshire from signing an overseas player earlier in the year.