Yorkshire CCC signs its first Afghan player in historic move
HAVING resisted their arrival until 1992, Yorkshire County Cricket Club has now signed overseas players from two-thirds of the sport’s full member nations, making Naveen-ul-Haq, the 26-year-old pace bowler, the first Afghan player to wear the White Rose.
Naveen has been recruited for the duration of next summer’s T20 Blast, emphasising Yorkshire’s commitment to rectifying a disappointing record in a competition they have yet to win.
The right-armer is a seasoned campaigner on the franchise circuit and in 2024 helped Afghanistan to their first T20 World Cup semi-final, playing a key role in their progress with 13 wickets en route at an average of 12.30.
Beyond the relatively prosaic considerations of the T20 Blast, it is an historic move and means that Yorkshire have signed at least one overseas player from eight of the 12 full members of the International Cricket Council – Afghanistan, Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies.
The only full members from which Yorkshire have not recruited such players (with the obvious exception of England) are Bangladesh, Ireland and Zimbabwe, although Gary Ballance, the former England batsman who came up through the Yorkshire Academy, was born in Zimbabwe and represented them at international level.
Naveen thus continues a developing trend since Yorkshire finally decided to keep up with the Joneses and made Sachin Tendulkar their first overseas signing all those years ago.
He joins Andrew Tye, the Australian quick bowler, on Yorkshire’s T20 roster for next season.
“It’s a real honour to sign with Yorkshire, a club with a very proud history,” said Naveen, who will not be taking part in the forthcoming T20 World Cup as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury.
“Headingley is world-famous, and I know how all the fans get behind the team. I’m very excited to play in front of the Yorkshire public at Headingley and contribute to a strong campaign in the 2026 Blast.
"I’m looking forward to working with the players and coaches and, hopefully, bringing some success.”
Success is certainly long overdue with Yorkshire having made just three appearances at Finals Day since the competition started in 2003.
Two of their most successful overseas players – the Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc and the South African batsman David Miller – were firmly to the fore when they reached the final in 2012, losing to Hampshire in Cardiff in what remains their most successful campaign.
Yorkshire were beaten semi-finalists in 2016 and in 2022, losing to Durham and Lancashire respectively at Edgbaston.
Last year, they suffered one of their most disappointing 20-over campaigns, finishing second-bottom of the North Group after nine defeats in 14 matches.
Gavin Hamilton, the Yorkshire general manager of cricket, is making T20 success a top priority and views Naveen as another key piece in the jigsaw.
“Naveen is a very talented player who comes with a proven record in the Blast,” he said.
“He has honed his variations and those will be a useful weapon for us.
“He has the ability to consistently make a significant impact on games and brings us exceptional quality and T20 experience for someone who is still young.
“As an in-demand player on the global franchise circuit, securing Naveen’s services is a strong statement of our intent and ambition for the future.”
That proven Blast record to which Hamilton referred was constructed by Naveen in the colours of Leicestershire. The Kabul-born player turned out for them in 2021, 2022 and 2023, enjoying great success in his first two seasons.
In 2021, no one in the country took more Blast wickets than Naveen’s 26 at 17.57 – four more than Kent’s Matt Milnes, who subsequently joined Yorkshire and has since returned to their bosom.
And, in 2022, Naveen was the second-highest wicket-taker in the country with 24 at 16.16 (one behind Lancashire’s Richard Gleeson), adding a further four wickets from five appearances in 2023.