The UK club cricket scene is home to players of all levels and abilities.
From those who turn out for their local fifths every Saturday – more for the appeal of a pint in the clubhouse after than 40 overs in the sun – to those brutalising the big leagues every week, so wide is the spread that it’s not completely out of the question to see experienced capped international players at your local club during the season.
International players without county deals often sign up for a summer in the UK playing club cricket in off-season back home, looking for matches to keep them ticking over until their domestic competitions start again. Gracing the greens this summer are Test centurions and a player capped over 100 times for his country.
Hanuma Vihari
Penzance Cricket Club in Cornwall completed the signing of the winter when they secured the services of former India Test batter Hanuma Vihari. The 32-year-old averages a shade under 50 in first-class cricket, having made his debut for India at The Oval in 2018. He made a half-century in his debut match, facing down an England attack containing James Anderson and Stuart Broad, before making his only Test hundred the following year against West Indies. Ominously, Vihari said last year that he is still hungry to score ‘runs by the truckload’, and was player of the tournament in India’s Andhra Premier League. In 2025, Penzance reached the final of the ECB National Club Championship – the first Cornish club ever to do so – losing in the final at Lord’s to Ormskirk CC.
Andile Phehlukwayo
The North Yorkshire Premier League will see South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo play for Carlton Towers – a club based southeast of Leeds. Phehlukwayo has been capped across all formats for South Africa, and represented his country 118 times. His last international appearance was an ODI against India in October 2022, although he was also a member of South Africa’s 2023 World Cup squad. Carlton Towers achieved promotion from Division Two of the Yorkshire Premier League North last year, and will compete in its top division this year.
Keegan Petersen
Joining Madushanka in the Northern Premier League will be out-of-favour South Africa Test batter Keegan Petersen. The 32-year-old re-signed with the club for the 2026 season having been their leading run-scorer across all competitions last year. He scored 1,251 runs at an average of 71.78. He finished 99 not out in his first innings for the club at the start of the season, before scoring four hundreds, including two back-to-back in his final two innings of the season. He also took 15 wickets across the season.
Muhammad Hurraira
After making his Test debut in 2025 aged 22, Muhammad Hurraira will also play in the Northern Premier League this year, having been signed by Fleetwood CC. Huraira failed to impress in his two Tests last year but did well in the President’s Trophy in Pakistan earlier this year, finishing in the competition’s top 10 run-scorers. Fleetwood CC were relegated from the top division of the Northern Pyramid last year. Club captain Declan Clerkin said on the club’s social media on signing Hurraira: “After a call with Hurraira, it quickly became apparent that he would be a brilliant fit for us. He’s young, hungry, and extremely passionate about the game. He’s been highly recommended to us by other top coaches and professionals.”
Lahiru Madushanka
Sri Lankan white-ball capped Lahiru Madushanka will play in the North East this year, stepping out for Garstang CC. A bustling seamer with the ability to score lower order runs, Madushanka played four ODIs and three T20Is from 2017 to 2021. He has four first-class centuries to his name, as well as 167 wickets. He averages 21.8 with the ball in T20s, with best figures of 4-15. Garstang finished second in Division One of the Northern Premier League last year.
Hugh Weibgen
Although yet to make his international debut, Hugh Weibgen has been an up and coming star in Australia for the last couple of years. He made a century in just his second match for Queensland in the 2025/26 One Day Cup, and also captained Australia U19s to their World Cup win 2024. This year will be Weibgen’s second consecutive season playing for Sunbury in the Surrey Leagues. Last year, he scored five centuries across the season and averaged 72.61.
Hayden Walsh Jr
Castleford CC near Leeds have secured the services of former USA and West Indies spinner Hayden Walsh Jr this year. The club has won three league titles in the last four years, including the 2025 trophy, in which they won 16 of their 20 matches. While Walsh hasn’t previously played for the club, he did pay a visit in 2024 when he was playing for Worcestershire Rapids.
Tatenda Taibu
Legend of Zimbabwean cricket Tatenda Taibu will join Cavaliers & Carrington CC this season. Taibu captained Zimbabwe in 10 of his 28 Test matches, before he retired aged 29 in 2012. Last year, Taibu played for Hoveringham CC in the same league as his new club home. He scored 273 runs in 12 innings, including 121* against Flintham CC, and took 17 wickets.
Hunain Shah
Younger brother of Naseem Shah, Hunain, will feature in the Devon Premier League this year, having signed as the overseas player for Bradninch & Kentisbeare CC – the side that won the Premier Division Title last year. Hunain was part of the Islamabad United squad that won the PSL in 2024, scoring a four off the last ball of the final to seal the trophy.
Abid Ali
Pakistan Test veteran Abid Ali will play for defending Huddersfield Premier League champions Hoylandswaine CC this year, having signed as their overseas pro for 2026. Abid scored a century on his Test debut against Sri Lanka, which made him the first men's player to score a century on both Test and ODI debut, having scored a hundred against Australia in his maiden ODI in 2019. In 176 first class games, he has an average of 40.33, with 31 centuries.
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