Sussex are ready to give new overseas signing Rana Naved ul-Hasan a baptism of fire in the Twenty20 Cup.

The Pakistani fast bowler arrived yesterday with his wife and four young children and will watch his new side in action for the first time when the county face Surrey in a crucial south division game at Hove tonight (7.40pm).

The 27-year-old's arrival was delayed after he broke a thumb in the second Test against West Indies earlier this month.

Sussex will check his fitness before deciding when he can make his debut but director of cricket Peter Moores believes he could still play a part in their Twenty20 campaign.

He said: "He would definitely be in contention but we will have to see. It may be that he is okay to bowl but might still be struggling to bat and Twenty20 is such an explosive game that you can't afford to take any chances with fitness."

Rana arrives with an endoresement from Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who faced him during the winter when Pakistan toured Down Under.

Ponting said: "He impressed us. He swings the new ball quite a bit away from the right-handers and he's got the ability to swing it both ways with the old ball."