Arafat and Chawla team up for Sussex

Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat and India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla are set to play alongside one another for the first time after Sussex named both in a 15-man squad for the Twenty20 Champions League in India next month.

The overseas pair have rotated this season with only one allowed to play in domestic competitions. However, the Sharks can field both in the Champions League.

As expected, the Twenty20 Cup winners have included England all-rounder Luke Wright and former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Smith, who chose to play for Sussex rather than Indian Premier League champions Deccan Chargers.

Yasir Arafat was chosen ahead of Piyush Chawla for Twenty20 Cup finals day but the pair can play together in India

The Sharks will have to do without England wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who they have agreed to rest, and former Zimbabwe batsman Murray Goodwin due to his links with the rebel Indian Cricket League.

The five players who missed out from the initial 20-strong party are Ragheb Aga, Carl Hopkinson, Chris Liddle, Chris Nash and Ollie Rayner.

Sussex, who are led by Mike Yardy, begin their Champions League Group B campaign in Delhi against New South Wales on October 11 before facing the Eagles, from South Africa, at the same venue on October 13.

Should they finish first or second in the group, the Sharks will move to Hyderabad for games on October 16 and 18, with the semi-finals on October 21 in Delhi and 22 in Hyderabad. The final is in Hyderabad October 23.

“We’re all very excited about the trip to India,” said Yardy.

“It’s great for the club to be one of the first two counties to represent England.

“I’m proud to be leading such a great squad, but our main priority at the moment is to concentrate on the end of the English domestic season - before attention turns to the Champions League Twenty20.”

Sussex squad: Yasir Arafat, Will Beer, Ben Brown (wk), Piyush Chawla, Joe Gatting, Rory Hamilton-Brown, Andy Hodd (wk), Ed Joyce, Chad Keegan, James Kirtley, Robin Martin-Jenkins, Chris Nash, Dwayne Smith, Luke Wright, Mike Yardy (c).