Sussex snap up Rashid Khan for T20 Blast

The Afghan teenager, who lit up the Big Bash with Adelaide Strikers this season and earned himself a bumper IPL payday, will join the Sharks for the first half of the 2018 tournament

^{Rashid Khan has signed for Sussex Sharks}

Sussex have made a major statement ahead of the upcoming T20 Blast campaign by recruiting coveted legspinner Rashid Khan.

The Afghan teenager, who lit up the Big Bash with Adelaide Strikers this season and earned himself a bumper Indian Premier League payday in the process, will join the Sharks for the first half of the 2018 tournament.

Khan was drawn to Hove by his relationship with head coach Jason Gillespie, whom he worked under in Adelaide, and brings with him a T20 bowling average of 15.20 and a remarkable economy of 5.81 from 90 matches.

The deal is subject to international clearance and visa approval.

"I am delighted to have signed for Sussex for part of the T20 Blast," he said.

^{Khan is one of the world's top spinners}

"It has always been an ambition of mine to play county cricket and the fact I get to link up again with Dizzy [Gillespie] is very exciting.

"I have heard a lot of good things about Sussex and am excited to join a talented squad and I hope to help the team push for T20 silverware."

Khan already has experience of many of the world's top T20 leagues, having turned out in the Caribbean Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League in addition to the Big Bash, where he claimed 18 wickets in this year's competition.

Gillespie is understandably thrilled by his latest signing.

RASHID KHAN CAREER T20 STATS

Games: 90

Wickets: 133

Average: 15.20

Economy: 5.81

The Aussie coach said: "We are delighted that Rash has agreed to join us at Sussex.

"His form for Afghanistan and the T20 teams he has played for over the last couple of years has been phenomenal. I have worked closely with Rash at the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL and have been incredibly impressed with his attitude, work ethic and team-first mentality.

"We look forward to welcoming him to the Sharks where I’m sure he will quickly become a fan favourite."

Khan is rated second in the International T20 bowling rankings, a single point behind New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner, and he was named as the governing body’s Associate Cricketer of the Year for 2017.

Sussex fans can now contemplate the exciting combination of the spinner and Barbados-born allrounder Jofra Archer combining on the south coast.

^{At just 19, he was earned a bumper IPL payday}