CHRIS JORDAN says Sussex fans are going to love teenage spin sensation Rashid Khan – and not just because of his talent.

The young Afghan leg-spinner is poised to make his Sussex Sharks debut tonight in their Vitality Blast opener against Essex Eagles.

Khan, who linked up with his new team-mates at Hove yesterday, has had a stellar rise to his career and helped bowl Sunrisers Hyderabad to the final of the IPL.

Sharks have pulled off a major coup by landing the 19-year-old who has made a name for himself in limited-overs cricket and is at the top of the ICC rankings in the T20I format.

Jordan, who misses Sharks’ opener as he is on England duty, got to see Khan at close quarters as a team-mate in India and has nothing but praise for the latest addition to the squad.

Head coach Jason Gillespie wants players who will fit in well to the Sussex dressing room and Jordan insists Khan, who is second in the ODI ratings, has a lot to bring both on and off the field.

Jordan said: “For one, he’s a very, very, very nice guy.

“He’s very humble and very respectful.

“He is also so into his cricket and into learning and improving his game.

“Whatever the environment, whichever the competition and whoever the opponent is, he is someone who always wants to showcase his talent.

“He always want to showcase his skills and loves to get into the battle.

“I know for a fact that everyone here at Sussex will love him - not only as a cricketer but as a person as well.

“He’s a top, top guy.”

Khan got his first look at Hove yesterday but the action begins tonight at Chelmsford.

He said: “It’s a pleasure to be here. I’m pretty excited for the first match to start, and playing for a county is always a pleasure and a big honour.

“I’m really excited to finally be here, and I will try my best to deliver well.”

Khan is also excited about linking up with Gillespie again after the pair worked together at the Adelaide Strikers.

Khan finished joint top of the wicket-taking charts with 18 wickets in 11 innings, with an economy rate of 5.65 runs per over - the lowest in the tournament.

“I had a good time with Dizzy in the Big Bash,” said Khan.

“It’s really good to be here, back with him. He’s really supportive, on the field and off the field, and I think the way he kept us in the Big Bash was amazing. Hopefully there will be lots of new things I will learn from him.”

Apart from Jordan, Khan has also played with Tymal Mills, Jofra Archer and Luke Wright during his T20 career across the world.

Khan said: “I know Chris Jordan from our time in the IPL. (Tymal) Mills is also here, (Jofra) Archer is here, Luke Wright - we had a good time in Australia, we met there.

“I know a few players. I think we have a very good combination, a very good team - as a batting unit and a bowling unit.

“We just need to work together, believe in each other and support each other and hopefully we will go well!”

Fellow overseas signing Tom Bruce is also named in Gillespie’s 13-man squad.

Sharks: Wright, Archer, Beer, Briggs, Bruce, Burgess, Evans, Garton, Khan, Rawlins, Robinson, Salt, Wiese.