All roads lead to Mainsforth in the Readers Durham Cricket League as the club gets set to unveil their new international star.

The loss of Mohammed Nawaz at the beginning of the season threatened to be a fatal blow to Mainsforth’s title ambitions, but after several weeks of battling their way through the jungle of overseas player red tape Faisal Iqbal finally arrived on Wednesday.

Iqbal has quite a pedigree in this day and age of middle-of-the-road club pros when international quality is hard to come by in league cricket. The 33-year-old has played in 26 Tests and 18 ODI’s for Pakistan. His last Test appearance was in 2010 in Sydney, and he has a decent enough batting average of 27 at the highest level having scored over 1,000 runs.

In all he has played 201 first-class matches in which he has scored 11,485 runs at an average of 40, and the club’s other star signing this season, Jonny Barnes, was enthusiastic and tongue-in-cheek about his new teammate, saying: “He’s obviously a quality act having scored centuries at both Test and ODI level, but there again he might not have played on a green top in the Durham League before!”

Philadelphia are afforded the pleasure of testing Iqbal’s skills when they visit Morrison Terrace this afternoon, and for the third game running Phili will be unchanged as they keep faith with the line-up that suffered a first league defeat at Crook last week. Mainsforth’s only change will be the certain inclusion of Iqbal.

New leaders Esh Winning take on a Bill Quay side who include the returning Paul Bentham, second-placed Dawdon have Mark Ewart back when they travel to Easington, their hosts still having to reckon without Stuart Pattison but able to call on the returning Gary Ward and Stephen Brett, and Horden, surprisingly still without a win, are missing a couple of batsmen, Lee Jackson and Jamie Greenwood, when they host Durham City.

Professional Sahil Madgaonkar has been carrying a bit of a shoulder problem in recent weeks which has prevented him from bowling, but Horden are hopeful he can resume duties this afternoon.

Division Two leaders Ryhope are again unchanged as they go to Littletown where their hosts hand a debut to Mattie Dench, signed this week from Sunderland. Seaham Park, in second, take on mid-table Murton, and third-placed Burnopfield have Stu Atkinson back when they play at Langley Park.

With Durham’s Jamie Harrison having moved back to Stockton for his club cricket, that possible survival route has been closed for Leadgate as they battle relegation from the NTSL, and they name an unchanged side for the visit of champions Tynedale who make one enforced change with Matty Pugh replacing the unavailable Tim Raglan.

Lanchester’s title bid would gather momentum with a win at Consett, but they go into that match without the services of Greg Patterson, the youngster having being called into the Durham Academy squad after impressing in the opening weeks of the season. Jake Dunford replaces him.

With Guy Saxton on holiday, leaders Swalwell bring in Michael Shotton for their game at rock-bottom Bedlington, Shotley Bridge have Stu Graham back in harness when they go to Annfield Plain, and third-placed Ashington have to reckon without Simon Prudhoe when they entertain fourth-placed Percy Main, the visitors missing Richie Walker and Michael Phillips.