Yorkshire have signed Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen Ul-Haq as an overseas player for the 2026 T20 Blast.

The 26-year-old has previously played in the competition with Leicestershire and is seen as a Twenty20 specialist.

During his three-season spell with the Foxes, Ul-Haq finished as the Blast’s leading wicket taker in the 2021 tournament with 26 and second highest the season after.

“It’s a real honour to sign with Yorkshire, a club with a very proud history,” said Ul-Haq, who becomes the first Afghan player to represent the county.

“I’m very excited to play in front of the Yorkshire public at Headingley and contribute to a strong campaign in the 2026 Blast. I’m looking forward to working with the players and coaches and hopefully bringing some success.”

A prolific talent in the short format, Ul-Haq has taken 271 wickets in 223 T20 matches so far with career best figures of 5-11.

“He has the ability to consistently make a significant impact on games and brings us exceptional quality and T20 experience for someone who is still young,” Gavin Hamilton, Yorkshire’s general manager of cricket, added.