Rashid Khan, Afghanistan National Cricket Team leg-spinner, who has become one of the hottest properties in T20 cricket, will play for Sussex for the first half of the tournament.

Rashid was one of the Strikers' chief assets in the Australian BBL, finishing joint top of the wicket-taking charts with 18 wickets in 11 innings at a startling economy rate of 5.65 runs per over - the most meagre in the tournament. 

He missed the final because of international duties, but Adelaide survived without him, comfortably beating Hobart Hurricanes.

Rashid is the No 2 ranked bowler in T20 cricket after finishing this year's BBL as the joint leading wicket-taker. India’s Sunrisers Hyderabad paid almost $1.4 million to retain his services at the IPL auction for this year. 

Rashid also played a key role in this week’s matches when Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe  to claim the two-match T20I series 2-0 on Tuesday night. 

At 19, his brief career has also taken him to the Caribbean Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League. 

Sussex's director of cricket, Keith Greenfield, expressed his delight at the signing. "Rashid is the most sought-after spin talent in the world," he said. "He has made a significant impact in all the teams he has played for to date, so to make this move happen is fantastic."