Sussex sign Mohammad Rizwan for majority of 2022 season

Pakistan's wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has signed for Sussex for the County Championship and T20 cricket for the side for the 2022 season.

Rizwan will link up with the Sussex squad at the end of Pakistan's home games against Australia in early April and will be available until mid-July.

The 29-year-old has scored 1,239 runs in T20 internationals in 2021, becoming the first batter ever to rack up more than 1,000 runs in the format in a calendar year.

Thank you for the opportunity. In sha Allah, look forward to a great 2022 season. @SussexCCC #GOSBTS https://t.co/Iyl9gzIF43

— Mohammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) December 16, 2021

The right-hander will fill the void left by former Sussex captain Ben Brown, with the club having agreed to release the long-serving wicketkeeper-batter from his contract.

Rizwan said: "I am absolutely honoured and excited to be a part of the historic Sussex County Cricket Club for the 2022 season. I have always heard great things about the Sussex community and this family club was always close to my heart.

"In my heart, I know our young team has the potential to beat any team. Our strength lies in our hard work, honesty, deep commitment, and self-belief: we can win, we will win, and we will play like champions, no matter what! I look forward to a great season."

Ian Salisbury, Sussex's Championship and One-Day head coach, said: "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really disappointed to learn we'd be losing a player of Ben Brown's quality.

"Now that has happened, though, we have to look forward and I'm delighted that we've been able to act quickly over the last week or so to secure the services of one of the world's best keeper-batters as a replacement.

"Mohammad's first-class and Test records speak for themselves and it's a huge coup to welcome him to Sussex for a big chunk of next season."

Sussex's T20 head coach, James Kirtley, added: [Mohammad] averages around 40 in all formats at an impressive strike rate. Couple this with his ability to keep wicket and he is one of the most exciting cricketers in the world.

"He will be an excellent replacement at the top of the order and with the gloves in our Blast team and I am extremely pleased to be filling that gap with an international player of his calibre."