The programme starts on April 26 and 26 players have been registered by clubs in the League.

This is an increase of one on last year's figure of 25 and consists of 15 Australians, five from Pakistan and one each from Sri Lanka, India, Zimbabwe, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and West Indies.

Two of the new recruits have already played first-class cricket with Woodhouse Grange's Kamran Sajid having a first-class top score of 109 and a limited overs best of 105 for Pakistan International Airlines in the country's first-class competition, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Sajid also played in the Pakistan U19 side in the U19 World Cup while fellow countryman Tahir Maqsood, who will be parading his medium fast bowling talent for Sowerby, made his first-class debut in 2000-2001.

Clifton Alliance are another club who have had a series of highly successful overseas stars and they will be hoping that Grade A batsman Luke Wells will be another big hit.

Two players who played second XI cricket in the East Yorkshire alliance are remaining with their clubs but will step up to senior league cricket for the coming campaign. They are India Gautam Sharma at Beverley and Ahmed Nadeem from the United Arab Emirates who will be hoping to boost Hornsea's promotion drive.

Australian David Nankervis will be hoping to emulate Ben Nicholson 1,117 runs at Malton, while Thirsk are pinning hopes on all rounder Garry Kelson from Geelong. League new boys Hemingbrough have recruited Maqsood Akbar from Merseyside club Whitefield and will be looking to also utilise his coaching qualification. Tadcaster Magnet will have the services of the only New Zealander in Shaun Cook.

Bolton Percy will have another Australian in Tyden Laffy.

Other recruits include Aussie J Blanck who is an unknown quantity at Castleford and Kane Gordon who has switched from Wetherby League side Spofforth to Harrogate. Heworth will be hoping for fine performances from Mohammed Fayyaz. Duncombe Park's plan to have Zimbabwean Piete Rinke back in their side after a one year absence have been scuppered as his visa has been withdrawn by his government. Because of the circumstances the registration deadline date has been extended to give them an opportunity to recruit a replacement.