ISLAMABAD Pakistan all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is to return to Sussex as a short-term replacement overseas player for compatriot Yasir Arafat.

Sources quoted Sussex professional cricket manager Mark Robinson as saying “We are extremely fortunate to have a player of the quality of Rana to cover Yasir.

“He knows the club well, will fit in quickly and add some depth to our bowling attack as well as provide some useful runs.”

Rana, 32, a crowd favourite at Hove but less of a success with Yorkshire, is expected to be available until May 21, when Arafat arrives following World Twenty20 duty.

Rana is not required for that tournament after he was one of a host of national players handed lengthy suspensions by the Pakistan Cricket Board last month in the wake of their dreadful tour of Australia.

Found guilty of indiscipline, Rana was banned from playing for Pakistan for a year, and fined Rs2 million. He has announced his intention to appeal against the punishment.

On the other hand, he has received his No Objection Certificate from the PCB to play for Sussex, and is awaiting his visa.

Rana was a revelation in his first spell at Sussex, taking 139 wickets in their 2005 and 2006 championship successes, and forming a formidable attack with fellow Pakistani Mushtaq Ahmed.

However, the change in overseas rules prompted Rana to look elsewhere, and following a spell in the unauthorised Indian Cricket League, he made only sporadic appearances and contributions for Yorkshire in 2008 and 2009.

Sussex expects Rana to be arriving for their first home championship match against Surrey on April 15. —Agencies