Sussex turn to Mushtaq

6 January 2009

Mushtaq Ahmed is hoping to make his presence felt from beyond the field of play

Former Sussex leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed will return to Hove this season on a short-term coaching basis.

The 38-year-old, who helped the county win three County Championships between 2003 and 2007, retired from playing towards the end of last season due to a longstanding knee injury.

Described by former captain Chris Adams as “the best player to ever pull on a Sussex shirt”, Mushtaq took 598 wickets in all competitions during six seasons of unprecedented success on the south coast.

He will serve as a part-time bowling coach at Hove for three months from June onwards, combining his duties with a similar role with the ECB.

That arrangement was agreed in October but has now been made formal after Mushtaq's work permit was granted.

“It’s a great honour to come back to my family,” said Mushtaq, who will work alongside Sussex professional cricket manager Mark Robinson.

“It will be nice to see all my friends again and hopefully I will be able to take my performances from the field into the dressing room.

“When you have a passion for something, you allow yourself to give your best and I have the passion and desire for coaching.

“It is also a great honour to be working with the ECB and I am looking forward to passing on my experience to the spinners of England, as well as the whole Sussex squad.”

Mushtaq was Pakistan's assistant coach during the 2007 World Cup, and served as interim head coach following the death of Bob Woolmer during the tournament.

Robinson said: “The confirmation of Mushtaq’s signing for the summer comes as great news to the club, especially after the intricacies of the new work permit regulations in the UK.

“We worked closely with Mushtaq and the ECB in October to make sure the deal went ahead.

“It is great to have a man of Mushy’s experience and stature to be working with the squad in what promises to be another exciting year of cricket at Hove.”