Sussex will be without Mushtaq Ahmed for the start of their Championship defence.

The 36-year-old leg-spinner has agreed a contract to be part of Pakistan's coaching team for the World Cup in the West Indies, which starts in March.

Assuming that Pakistan qualify for the knockout stages, their final game in the Super Sixes against Zimbabwe is on April 21, three days after Sussex open their Championship programme at home to Kent.

The semi-finals are on April 24 and 25 with the final three days later and if Pakistan were to reach the last four it would also rule Mushtaq out of their second game against Warwickshire at Edgbaston which starts on the 25th.

Sussex could also be without their other overseas player Rana Naved if he makes Pakistan's World Cup squad and they might even lose four first-choice players for the opening weeks of the season if Matt Prior and Mike Yardy get into England's party after being named in the provisional squad on Saturday.

Rana is back in Pakistan's plans after missing much of their tour of England last summer because of a groin injury which flared up playing for Sussex last May.

He played in the first of three Tests against South Africa at Centurion, but went wicket-less as Pakistan lost by seven wickets yesterday.

A five-match one-day series follows the Test matches.

Sussex coach Mark Robinson said today that the county will almost certainly fix-up one shortterm overseas player to cover for the absentees and possibly two.

He said: "We will wait and see who is available after the World Cup squads are announced.

"It could be that we only sign one overseas player but we could sign two and I don't think we won't be signing anyone.

"It really depends on what happens to Rana, Yards and Matty.

Then we can see what we need but there are quite a few scenarios.

"Once we know who is not going to be with us we will deal with it."

As well as the Championship fixture, Mushtaq will also miss the curtain-raiser to the new season when Sussex take on England A at Lord's over four days starting on Good Friday.

Sussex will warm-up for the new season by playing friendlies against Glamorgan (April 2,3), Northamptonshire (4,5) and Surrey (9), all at Hove.