Pakistan’s Shan Masood signs a deal with Yorkshire to become one of their overseas players for 2023

Yorkshire have signed Shan Masood as an overseas player for 2023 after the prolific Pakistan batsman turned down multiple contract offers from his current club, Derbyshire.

Masood captained the Midlands county in the Vitality Blast and finished as fifth top scorer in that competition with 547 runs, highlighting his versatility across formats.

Yorkshire have used four overseas players in Championship cricket in 2022 – Dimuth Karunaratne, Haris Rauf, Dominic Drakes and Shannon Gabriel making 10 appearances between them – and an attraction of Masood’s signing is continuity as he should be available for the full season.

In June, opening batsman Masood became the first player to reach 1,000 first-class runs this season. 

Such form which triggered a recall to his country’s Test squad and led to a concerted effort by Yorkshire’s cricket management team of Darren Gough and Ottis Gibson to recruit the 32-year-old left-hander.

They are known to be delighted with the acquisition of not only an outstanding player but a ‘top bloke’ who has impressed with his leadership skills on the county scene.

The Pakistan batsman turned down multiple offers from current club Derbyshire

Masood scored a century for his country against England earlier in August at Old Trafford

Yorkshire are expected to announce Masood’s capture in the coming days after Derbyshire confirmed on Friday that he would be moving to a rival county next summer.

Mickey Arthur, Derbyshire’s director of cricket, said: ‘He’s shown the performances I knew he was capable of in county cricket and we’ve been keen to extend his deal since very early on in the season.

‘The contract renewal reflected his performances and value to the club, but ultimately we couldn’t match the offer. 

‘Yorkshire set their stall out to bring in Shan, and while it is of course disappointing to lose a player of his calibre, I and everyone here wish him the very best for the future.’

Masood captained Derbyshire in the Vitality Blast and finished as fifth top scorer in that competition, with 547 runs, highlighting his versatility across formats.

Yorkshire have used four overseas players in Championship cricket in 2022 – Dimuth Karunaratne, Haris Rauf, Dominic Drakes and Shannon Gabriel making 10 appearances between them – and an attraction of Masood’s signing is continuity as he should be available for the full season.

Masood smashes a shot during Derbyshire’s recent cup clash with Lancashire Lightning