Premier League news: Transfers, captaincy and county deals

Casting my eye around the clubs on socials has highlighted how some Premier League cricket clubs are already busy in the transfer market.

On the one hand, that signals intent, a squad can be built around early signings and members get to watch overseas over winter from the UK. Clubs will be crossing digits that overseas stars avoid injury back home for domestic first-class duty and aren’t called up for representative cricket.

Nonetheless, some clubs have wasted no time in sealing deals for 2026; a piece of the puzzle in place and a sense of momentum (plus no scrabbling round in March).

Here are some transfers and other September club news – with much more to come from across Yorkshire’s clubs over the coming weeks and months.

Farsley triple

Farsley Cricket Club of the Bradford Premier League have signed Jer Lane’s opening bat Kyme Tahirkheli who struck 747 runs for the Bradford Park Avenue-based side in 2025.

Farsley have also recruited Hoylandswaine wicket-keeper Shabhan Raheem and opening bat Danish Hussain from Undercliffe.

The Red Lane club are part of a trio of clubs who are running Roses girls sessions over winter, along with Pudsey Congs & Woodlands.

All clubs in the top two divisions of ECB Premier Leagues must have a girls team by 2027 and there is a phased approach to working up to this for clubs who don’t already have a girls cricket offering.

Meanwhile, Joe Pocklington (who hit 1,089 runs for Farsley in 2025 and was signed by the Outlaws for Notts’ One Day Cup campaign) has agreed a two-year deal with the county until the end of the 2027 season.

To turn it back to Jer Lane, they have announced two signings – Umar Yaqoob joins from Hoylandswaine Cricket Club where his 40 wickets at an average of 20 helped Swaine become the inaugural Huddersfield Premier Cricket League Premiership champions. Jer Lane’s other signing is Mohammed Abbas from Bankfoot.

Woodlands: Want a padel in Bradford?

Woodlands Cricket Club, whose captain Brad Schmulian topped the Premier Division batting and bowling averages in a fine season, are eyeing a different sport.

The Oakenshaw club are awaiting a verdict from the council, expected November, on whether their application to create two padel courts is given the go-ahead.

It’s not expected to affect cricket operations but will diversify what Woodlands can offer members and the local community in Bradford.

YCSPL Awards

The Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League has announced its individual award winners of 2025. Appleby Frodingham’s Alex Grimes (1,101 runs at 68) topped the Premier Division batting while Cleethorpes’ Mayank Mishra headed the bowling honours with 72 wickets at an average of 10.5.

Kieran Lindley (Appleby Frodingham) claimed the all-rounder award for the Premier Division while Doncaster Town’s keeper Taylor Fell won the wicketkeeping honours.

To keep things in South Yorkshire, Cawthorne, who finished eighth in the YCSPL’s top-flight, have signed Muhammad Shahzad, a highly-rated Pakistani all-rounder for 2026 who played for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) this year.

Replacing Ghafari?

Durham’s last County Championship game at Headingley concludes an audition for Shafiqullah Ghafari. The Afghan-born bowling allrounder previously had three incredible seasons in Yorkshire club cricket with Richmondshire of the North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League.

Ghafari’s leg-spin has been destructive with 280 wickets at an average of 13 and that NYSD consistency ultimately led to a three-game contract with Durham County Cricket Club.

If Shafiqullah gets signed on a longer-term county deal, Richmondshire will have to replace an invaluable player who has been instrumental in their success.

Change at Castleford

Yorkshire Premier League North Champions Castleford have had an eventful few weeks with player moves, a new captain and a visit from a politician.

Liam Hyde who notched up 5,925 runs and 135 wickets for the 1st XI, with a debut at just 14, is off to play for Hoylandswaine. Meanwhile, Calum Rowe is relocating and leaves Castleford after two YPLN titles, two K3 Cup wins and a YPLN Trophy in the past four years (three as skipper).

Scott Hopkinson (photo above), a junior at Castleford and former skipper with Clifton Alliance, becomes club captain for 2026. In other news, Foreign Secretary & Castleford MP Yvette Cooper joined Colson Smith at Castleford CC recently for an episode of the BBC’s Politics North.

✍️ More club news over autumn and winter

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📸 Padel image credit: Oskar Hagberg