Yorkshire signs up Pakistan captain for T20 campaign
SARFARAZ AHMED: “Yorkshire are a big club with a rich history and huge reputation and I’m proud to be following in the footsteps of other Pakistanis who have played at Headingley like Younus Khan and Inzamam-ul Haq.”
Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been signed to Yorkshire from the start of August to the end of their T20 Blast campaign.
Sarfaraz is due to play the final five group games as a replacement overseas player for Peter Handscomb, who left after the Sunday 30th July match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge to attend a training camp ahead of Australia’s tour to Bangladesh. 
The wicketkeeper, 30, led Pakistan to Champions Trophy glory last month and has a record of 359 runs in 29 T20 internationals.
Sarfaraz, 30, is due to arrive in England later this week and is set to make his debut against Derbyshire at Headingley on 3rd August.
“I’ve always wanted to play county cricket so this is an exciting opportunity,” Sarfaraz told the club website.
“Yorkshire are a big club with a rich history and huge reputation and I’m proud to be following in the footsteps of other Pakistanis who have played at Headingley like Younus Khan and Inzamam-ul Haq.
“It’s a dream come true for me and hopefully it can help me become an even better professional.”
Sarfaraz is expected to feature in the Vikings’ final five group matches and any subsequent knockout games.
Handscomb’s departure means compatriot and fellow batsman Shaun Marsh will be Yorkshire’s overseas player for their five remaining County Championship matches.
Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, said: “We looked at Pete’s role in T20 as a wicketkeeper/batsman who bats in the top five.
“Through trying to keep the consistency and balance of the team as it is currently, Sarfaraz was the perfect choice for that role.”
Shaun Marsh, the club’s other T20 overseas player, will stand in for Handscomb in the remaining five County Championship fixtures.
