Ruturaj Gaikwad replaced with Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq at Yorkshire

India and CSK star Ruturaj Gaikwad had to withdraw himself from his County Championship deal with Yorkshire County Club due to undisclosed personal reasons. This forced the club, which had been on the lookout for a potential replacement for the ace batter. In the latest development, the Yorkshire side has finally found a replacement in Pakistan's top-order batter Imam-ul-Haq.

Imam, who has previously played for Somerset club in the County Championship, will now be representing a new side, as the signing has finally come into realization. The confirmation regarding his stint with the club was made on Monday, July 21, as the Pakistani batter will definitely be a huge boost owing to his prior experience of playing in the English conditions.

Notably, Gaikwad has been away from cricketing action since his elbow fracture that he suffered during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 and had to withdraw midway, which led to the franchise asking MS Dhoni to lead once again. Although the Pune-born was a part of the India A tour of England, he did not get to play, as he reportedly had still not recovered from the injury.

An impressive Yorkshire stint may help Imam come back to international circuit

Now in his absence, Imam will be eager to play for Yorkshire, as he has been away from red-ball cricket for almost five months now. He last played a First-Class game in March, representing Pakistan Television, but returned with a disappointing outing. He could manage 9 in the first innings and 21 in the second, in what was otherwise a successful game for his side, as they won by 3 wickets.

“We're delighted that Imam has joined us and that he will be available immediately. Whilst we were naturally disappointed that Ruturaj couldn't join up with the squad, in Imam we have an exceptional player of proven international quality. Imam has an impressive record and is already familiar with domestic cricket in this country which will stand us in good stead for a crucial block of fixtures, Gavin Hamilton from Yorkshire, said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“We are grateful for the speed in which he has arrived in the country, and everyone at the club is looking forward to working with him through until the end of the season.” Hamilton added.

The left-handed batter has also been out of favour from the Pakistan national team, as he was dropped from their recent tours due to bad form. An impressive stint with Yorkshire might help the 29-year-old to find form and earn a place back once again on the international stage.