Mushtaq Ahmed was always confident that he would be part of the county's Championship defence this season.

After three weeks of uncertainty, Mushtaq has managed to secure a second No Objection certificate from the Pakistan Cricket Board which will enable him to join up for a sixth season with Sussex next month.

The PCB had withdrawn their first certificate when Mushtaq signed up for the Indian Cricket League.

He missed the first three matches for Lahore Badshahs in the Twenty20 tournament but has taken five wickets in two games since to help Lahore reach the semi-finals, his first appearance coming the day after Sussex confirmed the PCB would allow him to play county cricket this summer.

Robinson said: "We were in almost daily contact with Mushtaq for the three weeks or so when this was an issue and he was always confident that the PCB would relent.

"It was a relief when it came through because the whole thing has been a long process but when the decision came it wasn't out of the blue because Mushtaq has always done right by Sussex and we knew he would again. Playing for the county means a lot to him."

The ICL semi-finals take place next week and if Lahore were to reach the final on April 7 Mushtaq's return to Hove would be delayed. He is due to report back on the day of the final, three days before the county face MCC at Lord's in the annual curtain-raiser to the domestic season.

Meanwhile, Sussex go into the final game of the pre-season tournament in Abu Dhabi looking for their first win against Yorkshire on Wednesday.

The county have been beaten by Lancashire, Essex and Somerset but Robinson has hailed the tour a big success.

He is delighted at the progress shown by some of his young players and believes the county will hit the ground running when the season starts in earnest in three weeks against Hampshire in the Championship.

He said: "It has gone really well and better than last year when we played poor local opposition when easy wins can sometimes mask the performances.

"It has been good to play county opposition and it has been apparent so far that every team really wants to beat us.

"We have mixed and matched the teams and everyone has had opportunities. Those guys who have not been involved have been able to practise well because the facilities are so great."

The slow pitches have encouraged spin and Robinson believes there is real competition for the second spinners' slot between Ollie Rayner and Tom Smith while Michael Yardy has been "bowling beautifully" according to his coach.

Left-armer Smith claimed the prize scalps of both Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Law against Lancashire and scored an undefeated 46 against Somerset on Sunday when Sussex recovered from 48-5 with Rayner making 42.

Robinson added: "It is great to see the younger players showing that they are capable of pushing for spots in the team and putting more senior guys under pressure.

"Ollie and Tom have both bowled well, Yards is back to how he was a couple of years ago in that he has a nice loop and is not just bowling darts while, of the batsmen, Rory Hamilton-Brown and Michael Thornely have been very impressive."

James Kirtley played his first game on Sunday after recovering from minor shoulder surgery while fellow seamer Rageb Aga is likely to get his first run-out on Wednesday.

Sussex return home on Thursday and play their first practice match at Hove against Glamorgan next Monday.