Yorkshire announce partnership with Lahore Qalandars

Haris Rauf will join Yorkshire for part of the 2022 season as part of the player exchange programme while Harry Brook was signed by the PSL franchise in the recent player draft

Yorkshire have launched a partnership with Pakistan Super League franchise Lahore Qalandars in a bid to "reduce barriers to entry" into cricket.

The joint venture will allow the two clubs to mutually learn from each, with Yorkshire especially keen to emulate the Qalandars’ players development program (PDP) and its successes with nurturing local talent.

The PDP offers young aspiring players the opportunity to showcase their talents with 150 shortlisted individuals provided with kit essentials and the change to play in nationally broadcast tournament on an annual basis. Over the past three seasons, the PDP has engaged just under half a million players throughout Pakistan with player trials.  

Among the players to benefit from the PDP is international fast bowler Haris Rauf, who went for a trial in 2017 and is now a mainstay of both the Qalandars and Pakistan T20 sides. He also represents Melbourne Stars, with whom the Qalandars have a strong relationship, in the Big Bash alongside fellow PDP beneficiary Ahmed Daniyal.  

^{Haris Rauf will join Yorkshire for part of the 2022 season [Francois Nel/Getty Images]}

As part of the partnership, the 28-year-old will join Yorkshire as an overseas signing during the 2022 season on a player exchange programme. Young Yorkshire allrounder Harry Brook was picked up by the PSL franchise in the recent player draft.

Also on the table are scholarships for aspiring players from Yorkshire to train and play in Lahore (and vice versa), opportunities for academy players from both sides to train and play in different conditions, and – subject to Covid-19 – a friendly fixture between the two sides at Lahore’s Ghaddafi Stadium on January 16, 2022.

Lord Patel, who replaced Roger Hutton as club chairman in November during the fallout from the Azeem Rafiq scandal, labelled the partnership "an exciting step" towards creating an inclusive cricket culture at Yorkshire commenting.

"The work the Lahore Qalandars do both on and off the pitch is remarkable and can serve as a benchmark for clubs around the world – ours included – for how best to spot, foster and support talent at all levels in the game of cricket," he said.

"The players development program is an incredible achievement – breaking the mould for how teams can be created within our sport, and demonstrating that through offering access and support, great cricketing talent can be found from all backgrounds.

"Over the coming months, this, coupled with scholarships and new opportunities and experiences for academy players, will represent an exciting step toward a Yorkshire County Cricket Club that is welcoming and supportive to all."

Interim managing director, Darren Gough, added: "I am thrilled to welcome the exceptionally talented Haris Rauf to our club. I am also excited by the opportunity to learn from the inspirational players development program.

^{Ahmed Daniyal (right) is another player to have benefitted from the PDP, earning a contract with Melbourne Stars for BBL11 and representing the Qalandars in the PSL [Afif Hassan/Getty Images]}

"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 to such a success and work with them to define how that can be used to provide access for potential players from across Yorkshire."

Meanwhile, Aqib Javed, the director of cricket for the Qalandars, encouraged more clubs to take note of both the franchise’s work and the partnership with Yorkshire, commenting: "The way in which we have worked and continue to work with clubs around the world when it comes to exchanging players should be a model that many clubs look to follow.

"It allows for increased diversity, the sharing of skills and expertise and all of these lead to positive cultures in which excellence thrives. We will welcome the Yorkshire team to Lahore in January with open arms and I am sure this is the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership for both clubs."

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Haris Rauf to represent Yorkshire in 2022