Shadab Khan swaps Yorkshire for Sussex as T20 Blast return is confirmed

The Pakistan allrounder helped the Vikings reach Finals Day last summer but has agreed to move to Hove for the entire of the 2023 campaign

Pakistan allrounder Shadab Khan will represent Sussex Sharks for the whole of next summer's T20 Blast.

A lower-order batter and right-arm legspinner, Shadab helped Yorkshire Vikings reach Finals Day last summer, losing to Lancashire in the last four.

The 24-year-old took nine wickets and scored 134 runs in a dozen matches. News of the deal comes days after Jayden Seales' stint on the south coast was cancelled due to a knee injury.

"I love playing in England," he said upon the deal being announced. "I know Mushtaq Ahmed is a legend at Sussex, and it is an honour to follow in his footsteps.

"Sussex has a proud history and I hope that my skillset will help the team achieve great things in the Blast this year."

Shadab is a regular on the T20 circuit in both franchise and international cricket. He was among the stars of the recent World Cup as Pakistan reached the final in Australia and has represented his country 84 times in the format.

^{Shadad helped Pakistan reach the T20 World Cup final last November (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)}

^{Shadab in action for Hobart Hurricanes, who he represented in the BBL (Steve Bell/Getty Images)}

Furthermore, he has enjoyed spells in the Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League and Pakistan Super League. In 225 T20 outings he has 258 wickets and 2,088 runs.

Sussex bowling coach, James Kirtley added: "Shadab will provide amazing experience in our middle order, he is someone who has played all around the world and has experienced many situations, which can only benefit our team.

"He really does provide flexibility to our side as he can score runs and take wickets in crucial moments, but more than anything else he is an experienced head that Ravi can go to as captain to look for support when making crucial in-game decisions."

He will likely arrive at Hove with plenty of cricket behind him, with the PSL due to be followed by New Zealand's white-ball tour in April and May.

Sussex kick off their campaign against Somerset on May 26. Finals Day at Edgbaston has been confirmed for July 15.

Related Topics

• Jayden Seales ruled out of Sussex stint through injury
• Tymal Mills signs Sussex contract extension: "There's nowhere else I see myself playing cricket"