Left-hand batsman Yuvraj Singh is expected to make his debut for Yorkshire when he plays in the English National League match against Leicestershire Foxes on May 18.

Yorkshire have confirmed Yuvraj as their overseas player for the rest of this season, saying he will replace Matthew Elliott, who is to return to Australia as soon as possible for family reasons. Elliot has also been off colour this season due to a knee injury sustained in Australia.

Yorkshire have left the door open for Elliott to return at some unspecified future date, but their hopes now rest on Yuvraj, who is expected at the end of next week as soon as he obtains his UK work permit clearance.

Yorkshire's Director of Cricket Geoff Cope said: "We wanted Yuvraj to play along with Elliott to find his feet, but that will not now be possible.

"Things have happened very quickly and we are pausing to draw breath and we have no plans to sign anyone else for the time being. We will see how things go.

"Yuvraj was recruited as insurance cover because we knew that it was likely that Elliott would have to return home at some stage for family reasons and because we are mindful that we might lose a batsman other than Michael Vaughan to the England squad.

"We wanted to cover ourselves against all eventualities," he added.

As the club's only overseas player Yuvraj will be thrown in at the deep end and Yorkshire hope he can adapt quickly to English playing conditions.

One unspoken hope is that he will help Yorkshire to success in the one-day matches, although there is a question mark over how valuable he can be in other competitions.

Yuvraj, who is yet to play Test cricket, but has 73 ODI caps to his name, will be the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to represent Yorkshire.

Elliott was seen as an all-round batsman who played the match-winning innings against Somerset in last year's C&G Trophy final.

This season his only appearance was as a substitute fielder, in the National League game against Essex last Monday. He was forced to withdraw from the Trophy tie against Cambridgeshire last Wednesday and has been distracted ever since because of his brother-in-law's illness back home in Australia.