“Coming to Sussex is a privilege and the chance to follow in footsteps of other Pakistani greats from Imran Khan to Mushtaq Ahmed, and to Rana Navedul-Hasan in the current team, is very exciting.”

LONDON: English county Sussex have signed Pakistan pace bowler Umar Gul for their Friends Provident Life Twenty20 campaign.

The 27-year-old, being rested for Pakistan’s ODI series against the West Indies, joins international team-mate Rana Naved-ul-Hasan at Hove.

“We're delighted that Umar has agreed to join us,” said Sussex manager Mark Robinson.

Gul, who signed with Gloucestershire in 2007 but did not play due to injury, could see his first county action when the T20 tournament starts in June this year.

“The prospect of having two of the world's best T20 bowlers, bowling in tandem, is a mouthwatering one,” Robinson said of the new signing.

It could well be exciting considering ideal bowling conditions in England during the summer and Gul’s mastery of the T20 game.

The right-armer from Peshawar made his international debut as an 18-year-old and has gone on to establish himself as one of the best limited overs bowlers in the world.

He finished as the leading wicket taker in both the 2007 and 2009 T20 World Championships and is the second highest wicket taker in T20 internationals behind teammate Shahid Afridi.

Gul was also the first bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in a T20 international when he destroyed New Zealand with 5-6 in the 2009 World Championship semi-final which Pakistan eventually won.

“Coming to Sussex is a privilege and the chance to follow in footsteps of other Pakistani greats from Imran Khan to Mushtaq Ahmed, and to Rana Navedul-Hasan in the current team, is very exciting,” Gul said.