Imam-ul-Haq joins Yorkshire after Ruturaj Gaikwad withdraws from deal

Imam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan opening batter, has joined Yorkshire as an overseas signing for the remainder of the season.

Imam, the nephew of Pakistan great Inzamam, has scored three hundreds in 24 Test appearances, and a further nine in 75 ODIs, and has previously represented Somerset in the County Championship in 2022.

He will go straight into Yorkshire's squad for their Championship clash with Surrey at Scarborough, and will remain with the team for their Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign, and the culmination of the Championship in September.

In March, Imam helped Pakistan Television win the President's Cup, Pakistan's domestic tournament. He arrives at Yorkshire after Ruturaj Gaikwad, the India batter, withdrew from his planned stint at the club for personal reasons.

"We're delighted that Imam has joined us and that he will be available immediately," Gavin Hamilton, Yorkshire's general manager of cricket, said. "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.

"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 in 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."

Derbyshire, meanwhile, have confirmed that Australia A batter Caleb Jewell will be back at the County Ground next summer after signing a contract for the 2026 season.

Jewell has been a key part of the Derbyshire side that is currently second in Division Two and looking to secure promotion for the first time in more than a decade. The left-hander is fifth on the division's run-scoring list, with 821 runs at 54.73, including a career-best 232 against Kent.

"Caleb has performed brilliantly in the first half of the season, despite adapting to new conditions, and we were keen to get a deal done quickly," Mickey Arthur, Derbyshire's head of cricket, said.

"As well as his stellar performances, Caleb has also settled into our dressing room really well. He brings real grit and determination to our ranks, the exact qualities you want from an overseas signing.

Jewell said: "I've loved my time with Derbyshire so far and I'm really happy to have signed for next season already. There's a great bunch of players at this club, they've all made me feel so welcome and that's been reflected on the field with positive results, particularly in red-ball cricket.

"Hopefully we can have a strong 50-over competition and then focus our efforts on staying in the hunt for promotion, to give our supporters a really memorable season."