Mushtaq Ahmed has been given the green light to play for Sussex this season.

The Pakistan Cricket Board have brought weeks of uncertainty to a close by backtracking on their threat to ban the leg-spinner due to his involvement in the rebel Indian Cricket League.

Sussex are now confident there will be no problem securing Mushtaq's registration with the ECB after receiving the necessary approval from the PCB. As an overseas player Mushtaq needs a No Objection Certificate' from his home governing body to play domestic cricket in England and although he was originally issued with one the PCB had threatened to withdraw it after he subsequently signed for the Lahore Badshahs in the ICL.

Sussex chief executive Gus Mackay said: "We received a second NOC this week and are now just completing the paperwork for the ECB.

"Mushy was always confident he would be okay but it has been a nervous wait so we are very happy the situation has been sorted out."

The news is a huge boost to Sussex's hopes of defending their County Championship title and came on a day when the ECB followed through with its own threat to get tough with players who are involved in the unsanctioned ICL.

Five Kolpak players - Wavell Hinds (Derbyshire), Johannes van der Wath (Northamptonshire), Andrew Hall (Northamptonshire), Hamish Marshall (Gloucestershire) and Justin Kemp (Kent) - all had their applications to play county cricket turned down.

Kolpak players do not need NOCs but the ECB have the ability to refuse their registration if they play in another country within a year of their application to play in England.

The decision will not affect Sussex's Kolpak player Murray Goodwin, though, despite his participation in the ICL.

Goodwin has already been registered with the ECB this season and the governing body have confirmed they will not be taking any action.

Meanwhile, Sussex lost their second match in the Pro Arabian Challenge against Essex in Dubai yesterday.

Carl Hopkinson top scored with 35 while Luke Wright hit 33 off just 24 balls as Sussex made 230-8. Essex reached their target with three balls to spare.

Can Sussex defend their title now Mushtaq's availability has been confirmed?