YORKSHIRE County Cricket Club have announced the signing of 20-year-old Jafer Chohan on a rookie contract until October 2023.

The leg-spinner, who came through the ranks at Middlesex and has also represented Berkshire, will join up with the squad next week.

The 20-year-old year old played a pivotal role for Berkshire as they secured the National Counties 50 Over competition title in 2022, gaining him a place on the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA). SACA provided Chohan with the platform to showcase his skills against county 2nd XI’s, where he made an instant impression leading the attack and becoming a key member of the squad.

In November, Chohan further impressed at SACA’s open day at the Adil Rashid Cricket Centre where he was then invited to trial with Yorkshire.

The Club will support Chohan as he continues his studies at Loughborough University, with the bowler set to be available for selection in all formats from the start of the season.

Yorkshire CCC’s Managing Director of Cricket Darren Gough said to the club's website: “We are thrilled to have signed Jafer for the 2023 season having been impressed over the last few months.

“He is an impressive player with a unique skillset and I look forward to seeing what he can do in a Yorkshire shirt in 2023.”

SACA co-founder & Managing Director Dr Tom Brown said: “We’re delighted for Jafer and very excited to see what he can do now he has the chance to showcase his skills on the professional circuit. We’d like to thank Yorkshire for giving him this opportunity and look forward to seeing him in action for the white rose in 2023.”

In other news, the Yorkshire County Cricket Club have announced this year’s 16-strong Academy and Emerging Players’ Programme intake.

Academy head coach James Lowe has led the selection of eight players across each group, saying to the club's website: “I think they are really exciting groups.

“We feel like we have most of the bases covered in terms of skills, and we also have a nice mix of ages.

“We have three Under 18s and then a nice mix between 17s and 16s.

“We’re strong with the bat, and we’re well stocked with exciting pace bowlers. We also have some very talented wicketkeepers and spinners.”

Yorkshire’s Academy 2023: Will Bennison, Alex Cree, Josh Hoyle, Noah Kelly, Isaac Light, Charlie McMurran, Harvey Round and Alex Wade.

Yorkshire’s Emerging Players’ Programme 2023: Jawad Akhtar, Ed Burch, Noah Chapman, Josh Hen-Boisen, Louie Owens, Jack Redshaw, Owen Smith and Joe Thompson.

“When you come around to selection, it’s a very difficult process,” continued Lowe, who is embarking on his second year in charge.

“We speak a lot with all the age-group coaches and watch them a lot.

“A club like Yorkshire, it’s particularly difficult because there are so many good players.

“There are a number who were on the borderline of getting in but didn’t, and we will keep track of them.

“But this group of 16, there’s a lot of ability in there. They were with us for five or six weeks before Christmas, and they were very impressive.

“We’re really excited to see how we progress.”