Sussex have completed the signing of Yasir Arafat as overseas player for this season’s NatWest T20 Blast.

The Sharks beat off fierce competition to secure the services of the former Pakistan international seamer who has taken more wickets in domestic T20 cricket in England than anybody else.

Arafat returns to Hove having had four previous spells with the Sharks, including helping them win the T20 trophy for the only time in 2009. He was also part of the double-winning side in 2006.

The 31-year-old said: “I am very happy to be signing for Sussex again as I know everyone so well.

“Last year was a very good year for me and I am very grateful to Somerset for the honour of playing for them, but the opportunity to re-join my old team-mates at Sussex is something I am really looking forward to.”

Arafat – who lives in Kent - is currently playing for Perth Scorchers in Australia’s Big Bash League and is one of the most experienced T20 players in the world – having made 169 appearances in the shortest format of the game.

He has also played for Pakistan in all three formats and Sussex skipper Ed Joyce hopes he will help the Sharks improve on their woeful form in T20 from last season.

Joyce said: “Yasir is a proven performer in the shorter form of the game and was a huge part in us winning the Twenty20 in 2009 and qualifying for the Champions League that year.

“He's probably best known for his bowling at the death in pressure situations and he will hopefully plug a gap for us in that department. He's also a hugely likable guy and the fact that he's also based in Kent now is another plus.

“This all adds up to him being a great signing for us and we're all looking forward to welcoming him back into the squad.”