Sussex initially signed Rizwan on an all-formats deal until the end of the Blast in mid-July but, within hours of their announcement, Pakistan had confirmed that their ODI series against West Indies had been rescheduled for mid-June, ruling him out of several Blast group games.
“It’s always good to have someone of his calibre, but the fact that he is a batter/keeper means we are really getting two players,” Kirtley said. “By continuing with an overseas player in that role it means we are not seeing any change amongst the rest of the team as Riz, Josh and Tim slot in and out.
“It provides consistency without disrupting the structure, which are key elements behind a performing environment. Not only is Tim’s T20 record outstanding, but he has played in the IPL and CPL so will offer great experience, as well as having a very healthy first-class record.”