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Sussex snap up Arafat for 2009

28/10/2008

Sussex have signed Pakistani fast bowler Yasir Arafat as their overseas player for the 2009 County Championship season.

The 26-year-old played for Kent last season, taking 38 first-class wickets in 12 games at an average of under 30 and was the county's leading wicket-taker in both one-day and Twenty20 cricket with a half-century of scalps across both formats.

However, next season will see Arafat return to Hove, where he was part of the 2006 double-winning side after replacing injured Rana Naved as the club's allotted foreign star.

Sussex professional cricket manager Mark Robinson said: "Yasir's signing is fantastic news and we are flattered that he is keen to return to Hove.

"It's further evidence that people who play for the club fall in love with it.

"He's not only an outstanding new- and old-ball bowler, but a fantastic lower-middle order batsman, who should stand out in both our four- and one-day cricket."

Sussex will be looking to improve on their 2008 performance, which saw them win only two of their 16 County Championship matches all season for a sixth-placed finish in Division One.

However, the Sharks fared better in the National League Pro40 championship, winning the title with a victory over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in September.