LONDON, Feb 20: Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has joined Sussex on a two-year contract, the English county champions announced on Monday.

He is set to play for the Hove-based club as a European Union player in the upcoming season meaning he will not be classed as an overseas signing.

Saqlain has joined Sussex initially as cover for fellow Pakistan slow bowler Mushtaq Ahmed while the leg-spinner is with the team at the World Cup in the Caribbean.

In early April Saqlain is allowed to apply for his British passport and as such will be able to play for Sussex as an EU qualified player. That might see him becoming available for England in 2008.

After playing against India in 2004, Saqlain sustained a knee injury effectively ending his international career, one in which he took 208 Test wickets and 288 in One-day Internationals. He has also represented Surrey and Ireland.

“I am very much looking forward to at least the next two years with Sussex with great ambition and determination having spent the majority of the last three years out of the game,” said Saqlain.

Sussex Cricket Manager Mark Robinson said: “The option of the two Mushtaqs bowling in tandem is a mouth-watering prospect. Saqlain is only 30 and we hope with the right care and attention from our support staff he will have a long and successful new chapter of his career.”

And captain Chris Adams added: “If Saqlain can emulate even half of what Mushtaq has achieved then not only will we have allowed him to rediscover his form and presumably his happiness with his game ad his cricket, but I am certain that if that's the case the England selectors will be watching very closely.”—AFP