Mohammad Rizwan joins Sussex for 2022 County Championship and T20 Blast

The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter has scored over 5,000 first-class runs at 43.50 with a further 3,978 at 39.38 in T20s

Sussex have signed Mohammad Rizwan for the 2022 season.

The wicketkeeper-batter is due to arrive on the south coast in early April following the conclusion of Pakistan’s tour of Australia and is contracted to play in both Championship and T20 Blast matches until mid-July.

The 29-year-old possesses a solid first-class record, with over 5,000 runs at 43.50 in 99 career appearances and has 19 Test caps to his name. However, it is as a formidable T20 force that he is best known. In 166 career T20 appearances Rizwan has scored 3,978 runs at an average of 39.38 and a strike rate of 123.92.

In 2021, he became the first player to score over 1,000 T20I runs in a calendar year and was the third-highest run-scorer at the recent T20 World Cup, scoring 281 runs in six innings.

This will be Rizwan’s first stint in county cricket but he has a strong record in English conditions. He has scored two Test half-centuries in four innings in England and a further 176 runs in three T20I innings.

His arrival coincides with the departure of long-serving wicketkeeper, and former captain, Ben Brown, who was released from his contract on December 16. However, Brown's exit coupled with the postponement of Pakistan's ODI series against West Indies from December 2021 to June 2022 could leave Sussex reliant on young Oli Carter behind the stumps for a chunk of the season.

^{Rizwan was the third-highest run-scorer at the T20 World Cup [Francois Nel/Getty Images]}

Commenting on joining Sussex, Rizwan said: "Dear Sussex family, assalamu alaikum. I am absolutely honoured and excited to be a part of the historic Sussex CCC 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! In shaa Allah, I look forward to a great season."

Sussex’s Championship head coach, Ian Salisbury, described Rizwan as 'one of the world’s best keeper-batters' and believes the experience brought by him and Travis Head will be invaluable to his squad.

"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," he said.

"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’s Championship. As well as his playing credentials, it’s clear from speaking to people like Mushy [Mushtaq Ahmed] and Saqlain [Mushtaq] that Mohammad will also be a wonderful addition to the dressing room.

^{Rizwan will take over the gloves from Ben Brown [Alex Davidson/Getty Images]}

"He and Travis [Head] are exactly the kind of experienced, international cricketers that our emerging lads can learn a huge amount from. Oli [Carter] has mentioned in the past how Mohammad is a big hero of his, so he is particularly excited.

"We all are, to be honest. It’s fantastic news and we can now get on with preparations for next summer with key positions filled."

T20 head coach, James Kirtley, added: "Sussex are incredibly lucky to secure the services of Mohammad Rizwan. There is only a select number of players that have scored centuries in all three formats. On top of this, he 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.

"As important as his performances are on the pitch, we needed to be sure Mohammad would be right for our environment. During our extensive research there was resounding support from those that know him. He is a natural leader and a player who will inspire.

"I am very much looking forward to welcoming him to Sussex as the latest in a long line of successful cricketers that have played for Pakistan and Sussex."

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