Khan joins Yorkshire

Yorkshire have confirmed the signing of Pakistan batsman Younis Khan on a one-year contract.

The 28-year-old, currently captaining his country in the ICC Champions Trophy in India, will become the county's first Pakistani player when he joins in April, after next year's World Cup.

The club revealed that the high-profile signing was made possible thanks to funding from ABDN, the Minority Ethnic Enterprise Network, a business-support network set up by entrepreneurs from the Asian community who will financially sponsor the move.

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan told the club's official website, www.yorkshireccc.com: "Without doubt, Younis Khan is one of the leading batsmen in the world, and we are delighted to have secured his signature.

"The deal would not have been possible without the financial support of ABDN, the Minority Ethnic Enterprise Network, and we are extremely grateful for their assistance."

Yorkshire has the largest Pakistani population outside London in Britain, and Regan hopes the signing will enable the club to engage further with the Asian community.

Regan said: "We hope this signing will act as a catalyst for the club to strengthen links with the significant Asian presence in Yorkshire, and we look forward to generating additional support in 2007 and beyond."

Younis has already played for his country at Headingley, winning the man-of-the-match award in the third Test defeat to England this summer after scoring 173 in Pakistan's first innings.

Younis said: "I know that players like Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard play at Yorkshire, and also legends such as Geoffrey Boycott and Sir Leonard Hutton played there.

"It will be an honour to follow these cricketers, and play at Headingley Carnegie."