Yorkshire signs Pakistan player to replace Ruturaj Gaikwad in Country Championship 2025

It was a body blow for the Yorkshire club when the young Indian opening batter, Ruturaj Gaikwad, decided not to join the Yorkshire side even after completing the deal due to personal reasons. This put the side in a tough position to find a suitable replacement at the eleventh hour of the County Championship 2025 season, where they were scheduled to face Surrey in the next fixture.

But they finally found a new way by signing Imam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan opening batter, as an overseas signing for the remainder of the edition. Imam is the nephew of Inzamam and has scored three centuries in 24 Test appearances, besides representing Somerset in the 2022 season of the County Championship.

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In March, the southpaw helped the Pakistan Television side win the President’s Cup, the country’s domestic tournament. He will join the squad straight into Yorkshire’s Championship clash with Surrey at Scarborough and will remain with the side for the Metro Bank One-day Cup campaign, where his value will increase more at the opening position of the side.

Yorkshire signs Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq as replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad

‘We're delighted that Imam has joined us and that he will be available immediately. Whilst we were naturally disappointed that Ruturaj couldn't join up with the squad, in Imam we have an exceptional player of proven international quality.’ Gavin Hamilton, the general manager of cricket for the Yorkshire club, expressed that they expect the batter to help the side with international experience of 1568 runs in 46 innings and 3152 ODI runs in 74 innings.

‘Imam has an impressive record and is already familiar with domestic cricket in this country, which will stand us in good stead for a crucial block of fixtures. We are grateful for the speed at which he has arrived in the country, and everyone at the club is looking forward to working with him through until the end of the season.’ He said in the statement.

On the other hand, Derbyshire has confirmed that Caleb Jewell will be back for the next summer after extending his contract. He has been a key part of the side, which is in Division Two and looking to earn a promotion for the first time in more than a decade. The southpaw is on the division’s run-scoring list with 821 runs at 54.73 with a career-best of 232 against Kent.