Pre-season news: Around the Leagues

Welcome to a round-up of pre-season snippets from clubs and leagues in Yorkshire that caught my eye. It’s not exhaustive by any means, more of a quick snapshot but I’ve packed plenty in.

The good news? There will weekly features here on the website, as we build up to the 2026 season. Interviews, opinion, transfers and plenty to read.

Double deal for Dalesmen

Richmondshire have signed Lalith Mohan (above) as the club’s Overseas Professional for the 2026 season. Mohan is a left-arm orthodox spinner who has represented Andhra in first-class cricket in India.

In a double-boost, the club whose first eleven came third in the NYSD’s Premier Division last year, have retained Shafiqullah Ghafari.

The Afghan bowling all-rounder has a one-year deal with Durham County Cricket Club but is now a home qualified player, after a successful asylum claim.

When available, Ghafari’s potent leg-spin will be a threat in the North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League where he has 280 wickets at 13.19, across three seasons.

Phehlukwayo bound for Carlton Towers

South African international Andile Lucky Phehlukwayo will play for Yorkshire Premier League North’s Carlton Towers this season. The 30-year-old bowling all-rounder has 135 international caps for South Africa and has been with SA domestic pro team, The Titans, over the UK winter.

Phehlukwayo heads to Fish Pond Field at a time of development for the village club who have also signed Savraj Nijjar from Scunthorpe Town.

In Navdeep Kaur became their first female chair in the club’s 168 year history while, in another first, their women’s hardball side begins competitive league cricket outdoors.

Doncaster Town Women’s Recruitment

Doncaster Town’s Women’s 1st XI squad has been bolstered for their County League campaign in 2026.

Lara Shannon is their overseas recruit from Gold Coast Dolphins. She scored 392 runs and claiming 35 victims behind the stumps in the 2025/26 Australian season.

Joining Lara at the the Spinks Oval will be Izzy Fidler who arrives from Rockingham Colliery. Fidler, also part of Yorkshire Under 18 and EPP squads this summer, scored 1,321 runs last season and claimed 31 dismissals with the gloves.

Hannah Cusack is another signing (from Tickhill) with the batter scoring 336 runs and taking 12 wickets in the Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League in 2025.

Doncaster Town will now be able to call upon Emily Copeman’s all-round abilities with bat and ball too. Her move (again from Tickhill) came after a productive effort yielding 563 runs and taking 23 wickets last season.

We are seeing a few players move in the short term, in all likelihood, to seek out the current highest standard of league cricket and a 40-over format after Tickhill, Yapham and Rockingham Colliery chose to leave to join their regional league for 2026.

(Image credit: Kouvolan Sanomat / Katja Juurikko)

(New) Farnley to Finland

Lukas Ruane, who hit 668 runs for New Farnley’s second team in the Bradford Premier League last season, has enrolled for national service in Finland. (Link is to original article by Johanna Tenovirta for Kouvolan Sanomat, so right-click & ‘translate to English’).

The opening batsman is doing his 165 days of mandatory duty at Utti Air Base, in the south-east of the country.

As a dual citizen, the teenager (from the village of North Duffield, near Selby) has been training in temperatures of -20°C, as he undergoes the basic military service required of all Finnish males, aged 18 to 60.

Lukas is expected to return to the UK in June and is looking to be a part of the Finland national men’s squad, as they eye success in the World Cup qualifiers. Finland host ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Sub-regional Qualifier C in August against the likes of Bulgaria and Spain.

Fit and firing at Arthington

Arthington Cricket Club have been seeking a Physiotherapist Intern to ‘support player welfare, performance readiness and injury management throughout the 2026 season.’

The call-out for trained physiotherapy support yielded 26 applicants on LinkedIn and the successful candidate will help with structured warm-ups, pitchside injuries and rehab.

After the enterprising move, expect the village club to be in rude health as their teams compete in the Yorkshire Premier League North and Nidderdale & District Amateur Cricket League.

Pontefract & District Cricket League reboot

Interim Pontefract & District Cricket League Chair Chris Slack has laid out plans to improve the league, support clubs and increase standards.

In a significant overhaul, it includes new sub-committees for everything from grounds to grants, plans for an umpires association and a drive regarding safeguarding.

An online Zoom surgery is earmarked for Wednesday 25 March and grants applications of up to £500 per club have been announced.

🏏 Got any pre-season news?

If your cricket club or league has momentous news for the season ahead, get in touch and we may feature it on the website in future.