SUSSEX’S hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the NatWest T20 Blast have been dealt a fresh blow by a further delay to Mustafizur Rahman’s arrival.

The Bangladesh seamer was initially meant to join up with the Sharks six weeks ago but has yet to fly to England due to a combination of injury and homesickness in the aftermath of a successful Indian Premier League campaign.

Sussex agreed to give the 20-year-old extra time off to rest and recover in Bangladesh but expected him to arrive this week ahead of a debut against Hampshire at Hove tonight.

Rahman has now pulled out of that televised clash due to visa issues and will now not be available until next Thursday’s game against Essex at Chelmsford.

Head coach Mark Davis said: “It is obviously very disappointing but I don’t want to go into it too much. Hopefully he will arrive early next week and will be able to play in our last three Twenty20 games and four 50-over matches.

“Having someone like Mustafizur would have given us a big boost tonight but it’s not to be and will give an opportunity for someone else to come in and show what they can do.”

Sri Lanka international Nuwad Kulasekara filled in for Rahman as Sussex’s second overseas player alongside Ross Taylor for the last four games but is unavailable tonight.

South Africa all-rounder David Wiese also played four games earlier in the campaign but has since gone to play in the Caribbean Premier League meaning the Sharks will operate with just one overseas player against Hampshire in a game they need to win to remain in contention to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Taylor is due to leave after the game against Essex next Thursday and Davis has confirmed Sussex will not bring in a replacement until the start of August meaning Rahman would be their only overseas player for the final two group games in the NatWest T20 Blast.

Davis added: “The budget won’t allow us to get anyone in for Ross for the last two games. We’ve got a couple of potential targets lined up to come in for the Championship game against Essex at Colchester but nothing is confirmed yet.”