Mushtaq Ahmed admitted today that he may quit Sussex if he gets a full-time coaching job with Pakistan.

The 35-year-old, who has taken 245 Championship wickets in three seasons with the county, has been appointed assistant to coach Bob Woolmer for the Test series against India, which starts on Friday.

No decision on whether he will be offered a long-term contract will be made until the end of the series next month.

But both Woolmer and captain Inzaman ul-Haq have been impressed with his input since he got involved during the series against England at the end of last year.

Mushtaq said: "I would consider ending my contract with Sussex if the PCB makes a long-term offer. That's possible, I've got to know where I stand in the long term."

Cricket manager Mark Robinson and skipper Chris Adams have both had personal assurances from Mushtaq in the last week that he intends to honour his Sussex contract, which runs out at the end of 2007.

And Adams believes his star bowler will carry on playing.

"I've heard nothing from Mushy other than he has a desire to return to Sussex for the next two years," Adams said today.

"When he left at the end of last season he told me one of his aims this winter was to get as fit as possible and by all accounts he is in great shape.

"Coaching Pakistan is a great opportunity for him and it looks as if he's been a great addition to their set up but I believe the right thing for him is to play for as long as possible and all the indications we've had are that is what he wants to do as well.

"Pakistan will always be there for him when he wants to go into coaching."

Pakistan are due to tour England next June but Adams said it would be impractical for him to play for Sussex and help the tourists on a part-time basis.

There is no doubt that Mushtaq has made a big impression since linking-up with the Pakistan squad.

Skipper Inzaman said: "He is a good communicator and the players can discuss things with him without any problems. He is an experienced cricketer who knows the squad well. He is a big help which is why we wanted him as a bowling consultant."

The doomsday scenario for Sussex supporters next season is an attack without either Mushtaq or James Kirtley, who will have his bowling action tested for the second time in five months in March after he was reported for throwing in two County Championship games last year.

Kirtley failed the first ECB-administered test in October and has been working with Robinson on re-modelling his action.

If he fails again Sussex can have him re-tested at any time. If he was cleared but then reported in a competitive match next season he would be banned for 12 months.

Kirtley was reported in 2002 while making his England debut in a one-day series against Zimbabwe but subsequently cleared and played in four Tests in 2003.

However, the ICC have tightened up their procedures even though bowlers are now allowed 15 degrees of movement in their arm compared to 10 per cent four years ago.

Robinson said: "It's a whole new ball game since 2002 and James is going through something no English bowler has had to before.

"But he is so mentally strong and if anyone can handle what is quite an intimidating process it's him."

Kirtley will undergo mock tests using specialist filming equipment at Brighton University and will continue to work with the ECB's fast bowling coach Troy Cooley at the National Academy at Loughborough.

"The technology has improved since he was last tested but no one should under-estimate the complexity of what we're doing," added Robinson. "We're as new to it as anyone and it's been a bit of trial and error.

"Will people notice a difference? Well, if James stands up taller, stays in his action for longer and bowls in straight lines, which is what we're working on, then yes they will because he will be an even better bowler.

"We will also have to monitor him a lot more in the future but I am confident James will get through this and be bowling again next season."

Kirtley remains upbeat and is grateful for the support he has received from the county.

He said: "I'm very happy with the way things are going. The support from everyone at Sussex has been brilliant. I am confident I will be running down the hill next season."