BARNOLDSWICK finally welcome their professional Raja Arshad into their ranks this weekend.

Problems over a work permit have kept the Pakistani all rounder in his homeland but a club spokesman confirmed this week that he was now in the country and looking forward to making a start in the Ribblesdale League.

It has been a fraught time for Barlick whose season opened on April 17 with Bruce Hara in their line-up. There was no play the following week due to rain and Paul Ridgeway stepped into the breach for last weekend's cup test against Cherry Tree.

Earlier Barnoldswick three times thought they had sorted out their professional vacancy when they turned to South Africa only for one to pull out injured, one to change his mind and a third to decide to switch his attentions to Morecambe instead.

Arshad has played for Pakistan in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament alongside Test cricketers Wasim Akram and Rashid Lateef.

He will be the first Pakistani to appear for Barnoldswick and should see action at Great Harwood tomorrow.

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