Confusion as Naved-ul-Hasan returns to Yorkshire

Yorkshire have confirmed that Rana Naved-ul-Hasan will return to fulfill the second year of his two-year contract, despite widespread speculation that his participation in the Indian Cricket League would prevent him doing so.

Yorkshire claim they have clarified the situation with the Champions League organisers and that they will be free to participate in it as long as Naved-ul-Hasan does not play in any Twenty20 matches. However, Champions League sources told Cricinfo that the rules, which would be officially released next week, remain the same as they were last year on this issue.

As things stand, Naved-ul-Hasan will play for Yorkshire in all competitions other than the Twenty20 Cup. The county will not be looking to recruit an overseas replacement for that tournament.

"I'm very pleased that this issue has been resolved and look forward to working with Rana again in 2009, said Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire's director of professional cricket. "He has been playing domestic cricket in Pakistan during the winter and is match fit and raring to go.

"The lack of an overseas player in the domestic Twenty20 Cup does not overly concern me. We performed well in Twenty20 last year when Rana was unavailable due to injury. I've every confidence that our squad is strong enough to do well in the competition this season without an overseas player. It's a great chance for someone else to put their hand up and stake a claim."