Gale: Sarfaraz is ideal fit for Yorkshire's T20 Blast campaign

Sarfaraz has arrived at Headingley ahead of his spell as one of the county’s two overseas players for the second half of the Blast, replacing Australian Peter Handscomb and joining Shaun Marsh.

And the Pakistan captain, 30, was unveiled to the media and fans at Bradford Park Avenue this week.

The wicketkeeper-batsman has not played since captaining his country to their shock Champions Trophy success in June, and he will debut in tonight’s home clash with fellow title contenders Derbyshire.

“He’s someone we’ve had our eye on for a while, knowing there might be a chance Pete would go during the Twenty20s,” explained Gale.

“We wanted to go down the route of replacing Pete like for like because we believe the balance of the team is just right this year.

“Had we brought in another batsman, we’d have had to drop a bowler to bring Andrew Hodd into the side.

“We’ve felt that being able to play six bowlers has been a real strength of ours.”

This is Sarfaraz’s first taste of county cricket, and he said: “I’m very excited about playing for Yorkshire.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about Yorkshire. A couple of Pakistan legends in Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younus Khan played here, and hopefully I will do well.

“There are lots of things to achieve for me. It’s a learning process playing county cricket for the first time."

Sarfaraz has scored eight fifties in 120 T20 career appearances, averages 28.03 and has taken 82 catches and stumpings.

“I think he’s a fantastic guy,” continued Gale.

“We did our research on him. He’s meant to be an in your face cricketer on the pitch, and I think that will suit us. Off the field, he’s a real nice guy.

“We’ve spoken to a few coaches who have worked with him, and the feedback’s been really good.”

On the potential of Yorkshire benefitting from the player’s confidence from winning the Champions Trophy, Gale admitted: “That final against India was the last game of cricket he played, so he’ll be pretty confident.

“He’s experienced, he’s a leader, and having leaders in the camp is always good.

“I think he will be a great addition.”

Sarfaraz signed autographs, posed for photos and passed on coaching tips to youngsters at Park Avenue.

“There’s a bit of a buzz around Bradford cricket with what’s happening at Park Avenue at the moment,” said Gale.

“I know Adil (Rashid) has been down there and practiced off his own back, which is great.

“It can only be good for the Asian community, and hopefully we get a few more coming down to watch the Blast games over the next few weeks.”

Sarfaraz echoed those thoughts: "I played at Headingley for Pakistan last year, and the atmosphere was good. There are a lot of Pakistan fans from Leeds and Bradford. Hopefully they come to support me again."

Handscomb left after Sunday’s high-scoring defeat to Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, in which he scored 31 – his highest score of the T20 campaign.

He returned to Australia for international duty having scored 1,042 runs from 29 matches for Yorkshire in all competitions, including five fifties and two hundreds.

Gale added: “I think Pete’s been outstanding. In the dressing room he’s been a solid character.

"He would have probably wanted a few more runs in the Championship, but he’s been a good guy who has worked hard.

“He’s been everything you’d want from an overseas player. He’ll definitely be someone we’ll look to bring back in the future.”