Azeem Rafiq has backed former Yorkshire team-mate David Wainwright to recapture the form that saw him selected for the England Lions last year.

Wainwright left Headingley earlier this week after just 29 first-class appearances in eight seasons with his home county, only four of them coming during the most recent summer.

At 26 years of age, the left-arm spinner has plenty of time left to forge a successful career with a new county.

And off-spinner Rafiq, who has just signed a two-year extension to his own White Rose deal, believes the Pontefract-born player will do just that.

“It’s unfortunate for David that he’s had to leave the club but I’m sure he’ll be successful wherever he goes next,” said 20-year-old Rafiq.

“He was in the Lions set-up not too long ago and that proves that he’s a quality performer.

“I know what it’s like to not get regular first-team cricket, playing one week and not the next, and it can be tough.

“The loan spell I had with Derbyshire earlier in the season was massive for me in terms of confidence. It gave me the belief that I can perform regularly at this level, week in and week out.

“I can understand the decision he’s made and I wish him all the best because he was one of my biggest friends in our squad.”

Where Wainwright goes next remains to be seen. Division One counties Warwickshire and Middlesex are both looking for a spinner and the former have just missed out on ex-Yorkshire left-armer Gary Keedy, who has elected to stay on at Lancashire.

Northamptonshire also showed an interest in taking Wainwright on loan during the summer when he briefly went to Derby before returning without playing when Rafiq tore a hamstring.

“If he can get regular cricket, I’m sure he can get himself back into that Lions set-up in a year or two,” said Rafiq.

Meanwhile, the former England under-19s captain will spend part of his winter on work experience with the charity Barnsley Active, which aims to get people involved in playing and coaching sport.

* Ajmal Shahzad has been given a severe reprimand and warned about his future conduct for scuffing up the pitch while batting in a County Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston earlier this month.

The punishment, which included paying costs of £750, was handed out by a three-man ECB disciplinary panel.

The Yorkshire fast bowler escaped further penalty, with an ECB statement saying that Shahzad “expressed his deep regret, apologised immediately to the umpires and had a previous exemplary record”.