YORKSHIRE have reinforced their determination to mount a strong defence of their LV= County Championship title by signing top-order Pakistan Test batsman Younus Khan for the opening games of 2015.

The 37-year-old right-hander will arrive at Headingley in April and will be available for the division one opener against Worcestershire at New Road on April 12.

He will stay with the White Rose until Aaron Finch’s Indian Premier League commitments have ended.

This will be the Pakistan batsman’s second spell with Yorkshire. In 2007, he scored 824 runs in 19 Championship innings at an average of 48.47, including a top score of 217 not out against Kent at Scarborough.

Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, said: "We have been looking for a world-class batsman to strengthen our batting department at the start of the season and Younus fits the bill. He will add real quality to our top-order.

“It also helps that he understands the culture of the club and what it means to play for Yorkshire. That was a major factor in our signing him.

“We are well aware of his qualities and we hope his vast experience will enable us to continue our efforts from last year and give us a great opportunity to get off to a winning start in the Championship campaign.”

Khan, who has been selected in his country’s 2015 World Cup squad, said: “It is a great honour to be returning to Headingley and playing for Yorkshire. This is one of the finest cricket clubs in the world.

“Yorkshire are going well and deserved to win the title last year. I hope my experiences in the first-class game will help them maintain their position at the top of the County Championship.”

Khan has played in 96 Test matches in a 14-year career, averaging over 53 from 172 innings, including a highest score of 313 against Sri Lanka. In 2009 he captained Pakistan to the World T20 title.