Coach Mark Robinson admitted he was disappointed Saqlain Mushtaq was denied more valuable match practice at Hove yesterday.

The ECB ruled the 30-year-old former Pakistan off-spinner could not play against Cardiff UCCE, even though it is not a first-class match.

Saqlain does not become qualified as an EU player until he receives his British passport which should happen this month.

Since joining the county on a two-year contract in February he has been been working on his fitness and playing friendly and second-team cricket.

Robinson said: "The ECB have told us in their wisdom we can't play Saqlain even though it is not a first-class game which was disapppointing.

"I would have thought if I was Cardiff UCCE I would have been asking to face someone of Saqlain's quality."

Saqlain linked-up with the squad at Canterbury last week but Robinson said it is still too early to assess when he might be available for first-team action.

He added: "He is coming on really well. A lot of it with Saqlain is confidence because he has been out of the game for three years and had two major knee operations in that time.

"The more he does the stronger he gets and the more confident he becomes but there is no point looking too far ahead. We'll make a decision about when he can play once his passport comes through."

It was never Sussex's intention to play their experienced players against the students in the three-day fixture, even those who have struggled for early-season form.

Nevertheless, seven pros are in the side led by Chris Nash, already Sussex's fourth different captain with the season less than a month old.

The team is made up with highly-rated Academy wicketkeeper Ben Brown and three trailists, all of whom have played second-team cricket for the county.

The most interesting name on the teamsheet was 24-year-old left-hander Zoheb Sharif, who scored 4 and 44 against Sussex for MCC at Lord's last month.

Sharif is studying at Cambridge University and hoping to rebuild his county career. He was released by Essex in 2004 after making just four first-class appearances.

Also in the line-up is Rageb Aga, a 23-year-old all-rounder who was in Kenya's 2003 World Cup squad.

Aga is playing Sussex League cricket for Eastbourne while fast bowler Imran Arif has already played two second-team matches this season.

Sharif lost opening partner Carl Hopkinson in the second over but briefly prospered before he was beaten outside off stump by Matthew Wood, the pick of a limited but hardworking students' attack.

Only seven balls were possible during the afternoon because of rain and when play did resume Nash played down the wrong line to Simon Butler.

But Luke Wright and Michael Thornely went on the offensive in a stand of 125 in 25 overs after tea.

A typically slow Hove pitch gave them the confidence to hit through the line and the quality of both batsmen's straight driving must have impressed the watching Robinson.

Wright fell seven runs short of a confidence-boosting century, stumped at the second attempt as he came down the pitch to slow left-armer Kevin Tudge after hitting 15 fours and two sixes.

But Thornely was no less impressive and a ninth boundary in the last over before stumps took him to his half-century.