Sussex coach Mark Robinson expects Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved to be available for the start of the new season.

The Pakistan pair were not due to play a part in Sussex's Championship defence until after the opening two games against Kent and Warwickshire.

But Pakistan are already out of the World Cup after losing their first two matches against West Indies and Ireland.

The squad will fly home after tomorrow's final game against Zimbabwe and Robinson expects them to join up with the Sussex squad around April 9.

The county play MCC at Lord's in the traditional curtain-raiser to the new season on April 13 and Robinson said: "Providing there are no last-minute dramas I'm assuming they will be available for Lord's."

Robinson hopes to contact Mushtaq at the end of the week once the dust has settled on a turbulent few days in Pakistan's history.

Their shock World Cup exit was overshadowed on Sunday by the death of coach Bob Woolmer, 58, who was found in his hotel room in Jamaica.

His death has hit the squad hard and in particular Mushtaq, who was appointed one-day bowling coach by Woolmer in 2005.

Mushtaq said: "The guys are still crying and talking about it.

"He was a great man, a great human being and one of the best people I have come across because he was so humble.

"He was very close to all of the guys and had so much passion for the game."

Mushtaq's big friend Inzaman ul-Haq has also announced that he is retiring from one-day cricket and is giving up the captaincy of the Test side.

Speculation about Woolmer's successor has already started and Mushtaq is sure to be in the frame, according to former Sussex coach Peter Moores.

Moores, now in charge of England's Academy, signed Mushtaq in 2003 and believes he has a strong influence in the Pakistan squad.

He said: "Obviously he will come under consideration. Mushy is great with the other players and a real thinker about the game. There is also a strong religious element in Pakistan cricket in which Mushtaq plays a big part."

Pakistan's players are thinking of little else except mourning their coach at the moment, but speculation about Woolmer's successor will inevitably start to build.

No decision is expected to be made until July and even if Mushtaq were to get the job it would not necessarily be bad news for Sussex.

Pakistan's next international commitment is not until September and the inaugural world Twenty20 Championship so he would probably still commit himself to Sussex for most of the season even if he were to get the job.

The early return of Mushtaq and Rana will delay Saqlain Mushtaq's competitive debut.

He was due to cover for their absence in the opening two weeks of the season as an overseas player but will not be able to play in the same side as his compatriots until early May when he gets his British passport.

The former Surrey off-spinner has stayed at home during Sussex's pre-season tour to Dubai and has been "working obsessively" according to Robinson.

He added: "It will give Saqlain another couple of weeks to work on his fitness and his bowling but all the signs are very encouraging. He has been working obsessively with our fitness coach Ben Haining and I think it shows just how desperate he is to make an impression this season and recapture former glories."

Saqlain will be able to play in second team cricket while he waits for his passport and will figure in Sussex's pre-season friendlies starting against Glamorgan at Hove on Monday week.