Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner Rashid Khan has joined Sussex for part of the T20 Blast, the county announced on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old leggie will make his maiden appearance in English cricket by playing in the first half of this year’s T20 tournament.
Khan, who has taken 45 wickets in 28 T20 internationals for his country, helped Adelaide Strikers win the BBL this year and ended the tournament as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 18 scalps from 11 games.
Sussex’s new head coach Jason Gillespie led the Strikers to victory and is excited to work with Khan again.
Gillespie said: “His form for Afghanistan and the T20 teams he has played for over the last couple of years has been phenomenal.
“I have worked closely with Rash at the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL and have been incredibly impressed with his attitude, work ethic and team-first mentality.”
Khan added: “It has always been an ambition of mine to play county cricket and the fact I get to link up again with Dizzy (Gillespie) is very exciting.
“I have heard a lot of good things about Sussex and am excited to join a talented squad and I hope to help the team push for T20 silverware.”
Potential Sussex T20 attack: Jordan, Archer, Mills, Garton, Rashid Khan. Pace, pace, pace, pace and world-class legspin
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) February 6, 2018
The development came a day after Khan took three wickets during to a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in a T20 International in Sharjah.
Khan, who was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for $1.41 million in last month’s Indian Premier League auction, returned figures of 3-19 from his four overs as Zimbabwe were restricted to 120-9.
Mohammad Shahzad clubbed a pair of sixes in an 11-ball 20 to ensure Afghanistan made a promising start to their chase. A middle-order wobble reduced Afghanistan to 85-5 but Mohammad Nabi hit a quick-fire 40 to guide his team to victory with more than five overs to spare.
