YORKSHIRE County Cricket Club have announced that they have entered into a partnership with Pakistan Super League team, the Lahore Qalandars.

The partnership will include:

• A player exchange programme to enable international players to learn from each other, starting with Haris Rauf (pictured) joining Yorkshire as overseas player for a period of the 2022 season.

• Scholarships for young, aspiring players from Yorkshire travelling to, training, and playing in Lahore, including access to the Qalandars’ first-class facilities, as well as opportunities for young people from Pakistan to come to Yorkshire.

• The opportunity for Yorkshire County Cricket Club to learn from and emulate Lahore Qalandars’ Players Development Program (PDP).

• The chance for academy players from both teams to train and play in different conditions.

• A friendly game between the two sides on January 16, 2022 in Lahore at the world famous Ghaddafi Stadium.

The pairing of the two clubs aims to enable mutual learning, development, and support at all levels, and a commitment to develop more accessible pathways to cricket for aspiring players from all backgrounds across Yorkshire.

The Qalandars have set a strong precedent when it comes to executing effective player exchange programmes, with successful partnerships with several Australian Big Bash League teams.

Another key element of this partnership is an opportunity to learn from the Qalandars’ PDP, which was invented to engage young people in Pakistan and give a platform to young aspiring players to showcase their undiscovered talent.

Darren Gough, interim managing director of Yorkshire Cricket, said: “I am thrilled to welcome the talented Haris Rauf to our club.

“I am also excited by the opportunity to learn from the inspirational Players Development Program.

“I have spoken in the past about my passion for developing accessible pathways to cricket – for many people from a background like mine, cricket isn’t seen as an option, with the associated costs and access to facilities creating real barriers to entry.

“This partnership is an opportunity to take the blueprint the Qalandars has developed successfully and work with them to define how that can be used to provide access for potential players from across Yorkshire.”