Red tape likely to delay Best's first appearance for Yorkshire

Best is still awaiting his work permit after receiving clearance from the West Indies Cricket Board to play for the club.

The 28-year-old is now expected to make his debut in the Championship match against Somerset at Headingley Carnegie a week tomorrow.

Yorkshire's chief executive Stewart Regan commented: "It's highly unlikely we'll have Tino for this week and we're working on the assumption he won't be available. His work permit paperwork has to go to America from his native Barbados and we're still awaiting the necessary confirmation.

"As things stand, we're hoping to have him next week for our first home game and the plan is for him to spend about a month with us and then we'll reassess things.

"That will give Martyn Moxon (Yorkshire's director of professional cricket) and the coaching staff a chance to have a look at him and it may be that we then look to sign Tino on a longer deal."

Moxon was impressed with the player during the club's pre-season tour of Barbados, where Best asked to join Yorkshire for net practice. Once it became clear New Zealand pace bowler Daryl Tuffey – signed as cover for Yorkshire's first-choice overseas player Ryan Harris – would not be available from the start of the season after breaking his hand, Moxon decided to run the rule over Best during a warm-up match and liked what he saw.

Yorkshire have not given up hope of Harris playing for them later in the year, although that may not be possible due to international commitments.

The Australian has been told to rest by Cricket Australia after the IPL finishes on April 25 with an eye on June's tour of England.