Devon Cricket Board - Torquay bring in Pakistan A batter to bolster line-up

Torquay bring in Pakistan A batter to bolster line-up

TORQUAY captain Justin Yau has completed a triple player swoop ahead of his return to the Recreation Ground this summer.
Yau, captain from 2008 to 2012, handed over to Ben Passenger last season after landing a job in London.
The 25-year-old keeper-batsman is now working in Bristol, which is in commuting distance of Torquay, and has taken his old job back.
Passenger needs a knee operation sooner rather than later and is resigned to missing part of the season.
“Ben has done a fantastic job and I hope will still be able to play a part this year,” said Yau.
Torquay’s big-name signing for 2014 is Pakistani batsman Fahad Iqbal, whose brother is former Test batsman Faisal Iqbal, who assisted Bovey Tracey in the second half of the 2010 season after New Zealander Andrew de-Boorder went home early.
Fahad, who is 28 next week, has played First Class cricket for 10 seasons and averages 32.50. He played for Pakistan A in 2009 against Sri Lanka and Australia and is currently turning out for Pakistan International Airways.
He is no stranger to English conditions having played in the Kent League for Bickley Park in 2011.
On the way over from Australia is UK passport holder Mitchell Pugh, a batting all-rounder playing first and second grade cricket in the Sydney competition for Manly-Warringah.
Torquay’s third signing is teenage South African Tom Marrow, another UK passport holder, who is the current captain of South West Districts U19s.
Said Yau: “We are very lucky to be able to acquire three high-quality players through Steve Hirst at CrickX, with whom we have formed a strong parthership.
“I am really looking forward to the season ahead and the challenge of skippering in the Premier Division again with what looks like an exciting team.
“Taking last year off made me realise just how much I missed playing and I can’t wait to get back into it.
“I am 26 this year and reaching my peak as a cricketer. It would be great to do that with Torquay.”
Yau’s return solves one problem for Torquay: what to do in the first half of the season while first-choice stumper Matt Thompson is working on Saturday.
Devon batsman Thompson will return for the second half of the season, along with another old Recreation Ground favourite.
“Aaron Williams has committed to playing for us again in the second half of the season when his school term ends,” said Yau.
It will be Williams’ third stint at the Recreation Ground, where he played up to age 16 before leaving for Barton.
Williams went on to skipper Barton, leaving in 2008 to play for Exeter. He returned to Torquay for the 2011 season.
Williams has been playing for Farnham in the Surrey League while working in the Home Counties and is vice-captain of Dorset.

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