Yorkshire have reinforced their determination to mount a strong defence of their LV= County Championship by signing the top-order Pakistani Test batsman Younus Khan for the opening games of the 2015 season.

The experienced right-handed Khan, 37, will arrive at Headingley in April and will be available for the Division One opener against Worcestershire at New Road on April 12. He will then stay with the White Rose until Aaron Finch’s Indian Premier League commitments have ended.

This will be the Pakistani batsman’s second spell with Yorkshire. In 2007 he scored 824 runs in 19 Championship innings at an average of 48.47, including a top score of 217 not out against Kent at Scarborough in July.

Given Khan’s experience and class, Yorkshire’s Director of Cricket Martyn Moxon was understandably “delighted” with his new signing

“We have been looking for a world-class batsman to strengthen our batting department at the start of the season and Younus fits the bill,” he said. “He will add real quality to our top-order.

“It also helps that he understands the culture of the Club and what it means to play for Yorkshire. That was a major factor in our signing him.

“We are well aware of his qualities and we hope his vast experience will enable us to continue our efforts from last year and give us a great opportunity to get off to a winning start in the Championship campaign.

“He will be with us for the first part of the season and we will then replace him with Aaron Finch, another proven international player.”

For his part, Khan, named in his country’s 2015 World Cup squad, is excited to be returning to Headingley where he made a positive impact as Yorkshire’s first overseas signing from Pakistan.

“It is a great honour to be returning to Headingley and playing for Yorkshire,” said Khan. “This is one of the finest cricket clubs in the world.

“Yorkshire are going well and deserved to win the title last year. I hope my experiences in the first-class game will help them maintain their position at the top of the County Championship. “

“The Championship is regarded as one of the best domestic competitions in the world and to test myself in English conditions can only enhance my game.

“I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates and also reuniting myself with Jason Gillespie, whom I played alongside in 2007. He is a great coach and I can’t wait to work with him

“For the Yorkshire supporters, I am eager to replicate the form I showed the last time I was involved and build on the Club’s superb form over the past couple of seasons.”

Khan has played in 96 Test matches in a 14-year career, averaging over 53 from 172 innings, including a highest score of 313 against Sri Lanka. In 2009 he captained Pakistan to the World T20 title.

Yorkshire have taken the opportunity offered by the departure of former second team coach Richard Dawson to Gloucestershire to restructure the Cricket Department at Headingley.

Director of Cricket Development, Ian Dews, will take full responsibility for Second XI cricket in 2015 and Barnsley-born Richard Damms has been promoted to the role of Academy Head Coach, responsible for the coaching and development of the Academy squad.

Former Yorkshire captain Anthony McGrath has been appointed Coaching Consultant and will work with players’ across all age categories from the junior teams through to the senior squad.