Sussex confirm Warwickshire approach for Mushtaq

Howzat? However it is, Mushtaq Ahmed won't be allowed to officially discuss with Warwickshire for a month © Getty Images Enlarge

Sussex have confirmed Warwickshire have approached them formally to register their interest in Mushtaq Ahmed - a day after they strongly denied media reports suggesting a move. Rumours were circulating that Warwickshire had approached them, but it was only on Wednesday that the official approach was made.

Wednesday's press release was as terse as the previous day's and made clear that talks with the player himself cannot legally commence for another four weeks. Sussex said: "As per ECB rules Warwickshire will only be able to enter into discussions with Ahmed 28 days from today so being after September 4 2007."

With the number of overseas players allowed reduced to one per county from 2008, Sussex have to hinted at a possible preference for Mushtaq, Mark Robinson, their manager, telling BBC Sport: "I will be surprised if Mushtaq is anywhere but here should he carry on playing.

"You never say never about anything but we have got a good relationship with Mushtaq. But if there are to be negotiations we will not conduct them in public because we also have a high regard and great respect for Rana Naved-ul-Hasan as a player and as a person."

The two counties are currently playing each other in the Championship match at Hove, which got underway on Wednesday - but only after a delayed start after Sussex disputed Nayan Doshi's eligibility for Warwickshire. It was eventually decided that Doshi, who walked out on Surrey last month, was not able to play as he had not met the necessary registration requirements.