Rashid Khan has told Sussex colleagues he wants to come back next season.

And not just via the tweet which accompanied his exit from Hove on Friday.

The Afghanistan star is set to play for his country in Ireland today as they get stuck into a three-match Twenty20 series.

Rashid extended his initial seven-match deal with Sharks in the Vitality Blast after deciding against playing in the Caribbean Premier League.

But his country pulled him out of Friday’s final South Group fixture against Middlesex, when Sussex won to secure their last-eight place.

They go to Durham on Friday night in the quarter-finals.

Sussex always knew they would not have Rashid for the knockout stages.

But T20 skipper Luke Wright has revealed the world’s top T20 bowler has let it be known he fancies Hove again next season.

Wright told The Argus: “Of course it has been spoken about. He has spoken about it. He wants to come back.

“He has loved it but I think it’s like anything, it’s just trying to make sure we do what we can to get him.

“We haven’t got a bottomless pit of money. It’s just trying to work out a way.

“But I know he is keen, which is great start.”

Wright has compared Rashid’s impact to that of Mushtaq Ahmed, albeit over a far shorter period.

He told The Argus: “We were here when Mushy was here and there’s that buzz when someone comes on.

“It feels like the game doesn’t start until he comes on to bowl.

“He has been outstanding. He has got such enthusiasm.

“You see him in the field and he is like a kid. You see him at training, even when he’s batting.

“He gets everyone up and about. He is so exciting to watch.

“And obviously on top of that he is unbelievable as a bowler.

“Also, for the wider community, we have seen Afghanistan fans rocking up at Hove and it’s amazing for us.

“The nice thing is he has loved it as well.

“We are all having a whipround in the changing room to try and get him back next year!”

Rashid took a wicket on average every 13 balls for Sussex and had an economy rate of 6.59.

Yet, if anything, his statistics – 17 wickets at 14.35 apiece – did not do his bowling justice.

His economy rate was bettered only by Imran Tahir (Durham) and Max Waller (Somerset) among players who delivered more than nine overs in the Blast group stages.

Sussex announced Rashid’s departure on Friday morning via a tactfully worded statement in which they thanked Afghanistan for extending his stay beyond seven matches and mentioned it being his “first spell” with the club.

Wright and company then went out and beat Middlesex by 31 runs with Will Beer, the spinner from Horsham who came in for Rashid, among their key performers.

Rashid has enjoyed working with Sussex head coach Jason Gillespie, both at Hove and, before that, with the Adelaide Strikers during our winter.

He recently signed a new deal taking him through at least the next two Big Bash campaigns at Adelaide.

Gillespie played a key role in bringing the spin wizard to Hove.

Rashid tweeted: “It was a totally different experience for me and I learnt lots of things in @VitalityBlast. Huge pleasure and proud to be a part of @SussexCCC. Hospitality, respect and support was outstanding from my team-mates, coaching and management stuff. Can’t wait to play next year.”