After a tearful moment when he received his Yorkshire cap, Barnsley man Azeem Rafiq is hoping to help the club to a first Twenty20 Blast trophy tomorrow.
Spinner Rafiq received the cap, which is awarded for service to the county, before the County Championship match at Old Trafford against Lancashire. The derby was drawn to leave the Tykes in contention for a third straight title.
Former Holgate School pupil Azeem didn't play at Old Trafford but he was involved in the One Day Cup quarter-final win at Kent yesterday and is expected to be a key man in at Twenty20 finals day tomorrow.
Rafiq – who re-signed for the white rose county earlier this season after two years away from the club as he had struggled with form as well as anxiety and depression issues – had no idea he would be receiving his county cap before it was handed over by captain Andrew Gale.
He told the Chronicle: "When Galey made the announcement in the dressing room, I couldn't believe it. I was in tears and it was very difficult to speak at first. Getting that cap is something you work towards from the first moment you enter the club as a kid.
"After the tough last couple of years I have had, to get something so important was a massive moment for me. In the 152 years of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, only 178 people before me have won a cap. "It was a very proud moment for myself and my family.
"It's extra special that it was Galey who presented it to me. Him and Martyn Moxon (director of cricket, from Monk Bretton) have been massive in bringing me back to the club."
Yorkshire take on Durham in the second semi-final at Edgbaston tomorrow from 2.30pm with the winners meeting Northamptonshire or Nottinghamshire at 6.45pm.
Rafiq said: "Finals day is a very special occasion. It's a chance to showcase yourself on a big stage but, more important than that, I just want to help Yorkshire win that trophy for the first time ever.
"It's been a whirlwind few months for me. It's all happened quickly and I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance to stop and think about it but I am absolutely honoured to be back in the team and so grateful to the club.
"It's going to be a massive six weeks and hopefully we can win some silverware this season. Of course I would love to be involved in as many games as possible but as long as Yorkshire are successful then I am a happy man."
