KEIGHLEY Cricket Club will get an early indication of their promotion credentials on Saturday at Lawkholme Lane in the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League.

The Championship Division Two club's opening fixture is against fellow title hopefuls Bowling Old Lane.

"We see ourselves as among the top two or three teams in the division," says Keighley chairman Paul Barker.

"And among our expected rivals are Bowling Old Lane and Spen Victoria."

Keighley, who have recruited well, will not, however, solely be looking to the experienced former Gomersal duo of Richard Gould and Adam Greenwood for inspiration.

They also hope that many others, including new skipper Paul Quinlan and vice-captain Max Davidson, will contribute, in addition to youngsters such as Louis Horsfield, James Rogers and Nathan Storton.

Barker added: "They are all a year older and have been looking good in the nets, while the ground is also looking good and we have given it a lick of paint."

Meanwhile, Keighley have also signed seasoned pair Humayan (Hammy) Shahzad and Azeem Hussain from current Craven League champions Ingrow St John's.

Barker explained: "The resignation of Ingrow St John's from the Craven League has been to our benefit.

"Hammy returns to us having played for Keighley as man and boy, while Azeem is of a similar age in his early 30s.

"Hammy is a pace bowler and middle-order batter who can hit the ball – his 50 off 15 balls was the fastest in the Bradford League in 2015 (Gomersal's Richard Whitehurst, who did it in 11 balls in 2010, is one of the few to better it) – while Azeem is also a batter."

Keighley's second team start off at Azaad, also in Championship Division Two.

The Wakefield hosts have survived the winter despite fears that they may fold, and leading the second team for Keighley are captain Alex Towler and vice-captain Shahzad.