Naved finally a Yorkshire player

Naved has previously played in England with Sussex (Getty)

Yorkshire have been given clearance by the ECB to play Pakistan international Rana Naved-ul-Hasan next season.

His registration had been held up due to his decision to play in the rebel Indian Cricket League.

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan told BBC Radio Leeds: "Subject to a valid work permit, which will hopefully be a formality, he'll be free to play.

"It's a strange end to a fairly long and drawn out process, but it's got the right result for Yorkshire."

The 30-year-old Naved played in the ICL despite warnings by Yorkshire that it could jeopardise his two-year contract at Headingley.

After securing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board, Naved was eventually free to join Yorkshire, subject to the ECB's approval, which has now been granted.

The club still need to be convinced that he's absolutely match-fit to play county cricket Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan

Regan said: "It's been fairly perplexing and baffling few weeks to try to make heads or tails of the pieces of information that we've received from the ECB and Pakistan Cricket Board, but we've worked our way through it and we've got a result which we're all delighted about."

It does, though, appear that Naved will not be guaranteed a starting place in Yorkshire's season opener against Durham in the Friends Provident Trophy on 20 April.

"The club still need to be convinced that he's absolutely match-fit to play county cricket" said Regan.

"That might sound surprising given the fact that he's been playing ICL in India, but we need to be convinced that he can not only bowl, but that he can throw the ball and field effectively.

"It's unlikely that he'll play for the first few weeks which is why we've signed the South African pace bowler Morne Morkel, who will cover for the first few weeks.

"When we're convinced that Rana can make his debut, he'll be called up into the first team and we expect that to be some time towards the end of May."