YORKSHIRE have been given a major boost with the news that Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is available for today’s Twenty20 Cup opener against Leicestershire at Headingley.

The ECB have brokered a deal with the Indian chief Lalit Modi, the man behind the Indian Premier League and the lucrative Champions League, which allows all rebel Indian Cricket League linked players to feature for their counties in the domestic competition.

But Rana, who Yorkshire are pressing to sign the release papers from the ICL this morning, would not be able to play in the Champions League event until 2010.

“Rana has to sign a termination of his ICL contract by May 31, but we want it done before the start of our Twenty20.

We have sat him down, and he is committed to playing for Yorkshire,” said chief executive Stewart Regan.

Regan was also working hard yesterday to get the release from the ICL signed off from the Indian end.

Rana, formerly of the Lahore Badshahs, demonstrated his worth to any Twenty20 side by creaming 53 off 24 balls in last Wednesday’s Friends Provident Trophy win against Surrey at the Oval.

The release from his ICL contract could also pave the way for the 31 year-old’s return to international cricket with Pakistan.