Adil Rashid discussing possible return to first-class cricket with Yorkshire

Rashid, who has not played a first-class match since 2019, has travelled to the UAE for Yorkshire's pre-season tour but Gary Ballance is a notable absentee

Adil Rashid is in discussion with Yorkshire about making a return to first-class cricket.

Rashid, who has not played a first-class match since his final Test appearance in January 2019, revived the possibility of a return by agreeing to go on Yorkshire’s pre-season tour to the UAE. He has not played a first-class match for the club since 2017 and hasn't participated in a pre-season tour since 2015.

But with a new coaching team in place at the club, Rashid appears to feel more comfortable in the environment. He is understood to have a good relationship with Darren Gough, the club’s interim director of cricket, who has been encouraging him to consider such a return.

The long-term shoulder injury which troubled him in the past is also understood to have recovered sufficiently to make such a move viable.

^{Rashid hasn't featured for Yorkshire in the County Championship since 2017 [David Rogers/Getty Images]}

While Rashid has yet to decide whether he is prepared to make such a return, the club have confirmed that discussions are on-going.

"The club are in discussions with Adil about red-ball cricket but no decisions have been made yet," a Yorkshire spokesperson said.

If Rashid does make a red-ball comeback it could have consequences for England’s Test plans. He is only 34, after all, and could yet add to his 19 Test caps. There have been times in recent months when England would dearly have loved the attacking option he might offer.

Gary Ballance has pulled out of Yorkshire’s pre-season tour, however. While the club have yet to provide clarification on the reasons, it is understood not to be a physical issue.

Ballance is currently suspended from England selection after revelations emerged as part of the Azeem Rafiq episode. He is also understood to be the subject of an on-going investigation from the ECB’s Integrity Unit.