Sussex have added a second world-class spinner to their squad by signing Saqlain Mushtaq.

The 30-year-old, who has agreed a two-year contract, will initially join the county as cover for Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved in the first month of the season while they take part in the World Cup.

Because he has an English wife and has lived here for three years, Sussex can then play him as a local. He will be eligible to play for England by 2008.

The last few years of Saqlain's career has been blighted by knee problems but, three years after playing the last of his 49 Tests for Pakistan, he is fully fit and ready to resume a county career which took off when he helped Surrey win nine trophies.

Sussex skipper Chris Adams today hailed his arrival as the second biggest signing during his captaincy after Mushtaq.

He said: "We are bringing in a world-class finger spinner who has the potential to make the same impact as Mushy has.

"His record speaks for itself and we are getting him at a fantastic time. He is hungry to succeed in county cricket again and is someone with the potential to take 60-plus Championship wickets.

"I hope our supporters are as excited at the prospect of Mushy and Saqlain bowling together as I am."

Saqlain's contract is similar to the deal Mushtaq signed when he joined Sussex in 2003 with bonuses depending on appearances and the number of wickets he takes.

Coach Mark Robinson explained: "Saqlain has had trouble with a knee but he played for Ireland last year without any problems and when we were over there he spoke to Mushtaq about how desperate he was to get back into county cricket.

"The contract covers the club against the possibility that he could have further problems with his knee but we have had him checked out by our specialists and they are 100 per cent happy.

"He has been working hard on his fitness and is desperate to show that he is a world-class performer again. He ticks all the boxes as far as we are concerned."

Saqlain's international career began as a 19-year-old in 1995. He has taken 208 Test wickets at 29.83 and 288 in 169 one-day internationals.

He was the quickest ever bowler to 100 ODI wickets and he took 384 wickets during a productive career with Surrey which ended in 2002 - when he was replaced, albeit briefly, by Mushtaq.

Sussex supporters will relish the prospect of the two bowling in tandem next season but Saqlain is also a shrewd long-term acquisition with counties only able to field one overseas player from 2008 and 36-year-old Mushtaq coming to the end of his phenomenal career.

Adams added: "It's similar to Mushy in that we are signing someone with a hunger to succeed and he is coming into an environment where it can happen for him."