Horsham will stage county cricket after all this season.

Sussex have confirmed the Championship match against Durham will go ahead at Cricketfield Road between July 13-16.

The festival had been shelved because of fears it would not have been viable without a one-day match.

Sponsorship from Horsham-based manufacturing firm EMCEL Filters and the district council now means the festival is on.

There is still no one-day game but days two and three of the Durham fixture are at the weekend which should ensure decent attendances.

Sussex's chief executive Gus Mackay said: "Horsham has always been a highlight of our fixture list and I am keen to promote outground cricket in Sussex. The support of EMCEL has been invaluable."

Meanwhile, coach Mark Robinson is confident Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved will link-up with the squad before their final pre-season game against England A at Lord's on April 13.

Robinson met the pair before they flew home yesterday following Pakistan's early exit from the World Cup.

He said: "Mushy was pretty down about the Bob Woolmer business when we met but the more we talked about Sussex the more animated he got."

Sussex play their first pre-season game on Monday against Glamorgan at Hove.