The Pakistan international will be available for Yorkshire's second outing of the season, against Gloucestershire in Bristol
Yorkshire have signed Pakistan international Saud Shakeel on a short-term overseas contract.
The 27-year-old will be available for four County Championship matches, beginning with Yorkshire's clash with Gloucestershire in Bristol, which starts on April 13.
He will be one of two overseas players available for selection, alongside West Indies international Shai Hope, and there is scope for his contract to be extended beyond his initial stint.
Yorkshire had hoped to have Shakeel available for selection for their season opener but encountered visa delays.
A middle-order batter, Shakeel made his Test debut for Pakistan against England in December and scored 346 runs at 57.66, including four half-centuries, during the series – a haul bettered by only Babar Azam among his teammates.
Shakeel celebrates his maiden Test century [Asif Hassan/Getty Images]
He continued his strong form against New Zealand, scoring his maiden Test century in Karachi in January, and has scored over 4,500 runs at 54.23 across his first-class career.
Yorkshire's managing director, Darren Gough, said: "Saud is a very talented young player, he will be a wonderful addition to our current squad.
"He did well against England and New Zealand – and here at Yorkshire we want to get the balance right between youth and experience and we now feel we have got a squad where we have plenty of opportunities for everyone.
"We don't want to be in a position like last year where we had to rely purely on youth at times – you need that balance in the line-up.
"We see this as a great signing. Saud is coming over here looking to put his name in lights. He has already played for Pakistan – he'll be in their Test squad in July most likely.
"He is coming here to develop his game and it's great for us to have someone else of international experience coming into the Yorkshire dressing room."
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