Rana Naved runs out for Sussex Sharks tonight aiming to etch his names alongside the county's Pakistani stars of the past.

The 27-year-old paceman from Punjab makes a belated Sussex debut after recovering from a thumb injury sustained on international duty in the Caribbean.

He does so in the spotlight of a Twenty20 Cup match at home to Middlesex Crusaders (6.30pm) which could decide which of the two teams make the last eight.

Victory will take Sussex to within a point of Middlesex, on whom they have a game in hand.

If that is not an exciting enough prospect, the debut of a Test match new ball bowler should entice something approaching a full house to Hove tonight.

Naved, who has played five Tests and 31 ODIs, thrives on excitement and attacking cricket having been brought up on the bowling exploits of his fellow countrymen Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

But he also knows a bit about the legacy of overseas stars at Hove.

Asked if he was too young to remember Imran Khan playing for Sussex, he said: "No, I know about him playing here. And I know Javed Miandad played here.

"I'm proud to follow those players and play for Sussex.

"Wasim and Waqar were the legends when I was growing up. Along with Imran Khan. I loved those bowlers."

Naved's arrival was put back by about a month after he suffered a broken thumb while playing for his country in the West Indies.

He finally got to Hove early last week but is no stranger to English conditions thanks to a spell in the Bradford League.

He said: "I want to learn about cricket and mature. That's why I've come here.

"Playing cricket for a county has been my dream.

"County cricket is good quality, the best domestic cricket in the world.

"All youngsters in Pakistan would like to play county or league cricket in England.

"People will expect a lot of me but I'm very happy with that."

Naved expects to prise batsmen out with swing rather than blasting them out with sheer pace, though control will also be a watchword tonight against a Crusaders line-up Sussex skipper Chris Adams rates very highly.

Sussex's latest arrival said: "Swing bowling is very difficult for the batsman.

"The weather will be helpful for that bowling when the cloud comes. English conditions are very good for the swing bowler sometimes but not all the time.

"But I'm used to playing In England. I know the conditions."

Naved's time learning the game in the north of England is evident when you chat to him.

His English might be a bit faltering at the moment but ask where he played and he replies "Pudsey" in a broad Yorkshire accent.

He takes over in the Sussex team from Johan van der Wath, who has gone home for pre-season with Orange Free State.

Van der Wath led Sussex out for the second innings of Friday's win over Hampshire by way of thanks for his efforts in the first half of the season.

In fact, the baton, figuratively speaking, started to be passed in the driveway behind the Hove pavilion at about 4.20pm on Friday.

That was when van der Wath, getting out of his car on his arrival at the ground, bumped into his replacement, who was walking towards the changing rooms.

Rana said: "That was our first meeting. He just said 'Hi mate, how are you?'.

The answer? Fighting fit and ready for Twenty20 action.