AZEEM Rafiq is determined to enjoy his second chance with Yorkshire, admitting: “I have a little bit of a different relationship with cricket now.”

The 25-year-old off-spinner is back in professional cricket after the best part of two years away.

Released by the county champions towards the end of 2014, he returned to Headingley on a deal until the end of the season earlier this month.

Having impressed in league cricket for Sheffield and Phoenix in the Yorkshire Premier League South, and with Yorkshire’s second XI, he is even back in the first-team set up.

He has taken three wickets in two NatWest T20 Blast appearances, and yesterday he claimed three wickets on day two of the county’s ongoing four-day friendly with Pakistan A.

“I’m pretty happy with how it’s all happened, and I’m happy with where I’m at,” he said.

“I’ve been doing quite well for Sheffield United in the league, and it went from there. They asked me if I wanted to play in a second-team game, which went well. It progressed from there.

“I’ve stayed in touch with the lads, but it was a nice call that I got from Ian Dews. Hopefully it’s just a nice little start and I can enjoy what I’m doing.

“I’m not looking too far ahead. I just want to enjoy it.

“Everyone’s been really supportive, and it feels like I’ve never been away.

“It was nice to have a break from the game and try my hand at other things, but I’m chuffed to be back.

“I want to keep trying to enjoy cricket, and whichever team I’m in try to win games. I have a little bit of different relationship with cricket now, which is about trying to enjoy it.”

Rafiq’s first crack at professional cricket was going swimmingly.

He captained the England under 19s, captained Yorkshire’s T20 side, briefly deposed Adil Rashid as the preferred Championship spinner and was, in despatches, mentioned as a future England player.

But unfortunately, things unravelled for the Karachi-born player, who admitted: “Where I was at with my cricket and mentally, leaving the game was something that was required.

“I’m a massive believer that everything happens for a reason. It’s just all part and parcel of life.

“I was pretty full on with cricket from a young age, so it was nice to have a break.

“I didn’t do too much. I did a bit of coaching, which I really enjoyed, and I spent my winter in Dubai working on my skills.

“Everyone has patches in their career where it doesn’t go quite to plan, and I had that.

“I just lost a bit of confidence altogether with my cricket, but it’s nice to be back.”

Rafiq finished with figures of 3-60 from 20 overs yesterday as Pakistan A, replying to 246 all out, closed on 341-8 from 94 overs.

Yorkshire had done superbly well to peg the tourists back from 142-1, with them slipping to 215-7.

As it was, eighth-wicket pair Hasan Ali (41) and Mohammad Hasan, 88 not out, put on 90 to swing the game in their favour.

Rafiq got Jaahid Ali caught behind for 64, Umar Siddiq lbw and Mohammad Nawaz caught in the afternoon session as Pakistan lost six for 73.