Manningham Mills are hoping to give Pakistan Test player Saqlain Mushtaq a debut on Sunday in the first round of the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup.

The 32-year-old off-spinner, who has played 49 Tests for his country and 169 one-day internationals, has been named in Mills’ 12 at Saltaire, who have won both their league matches so far.

Saqlain had an 11-year association with Surrey and signed for Sussex in 2007 when he was on the international scrapheap.

However, signing a contract with the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League meant that any talk of him representing England was quietened.

Mills committee member Mohammed Ishaq said: “Our chairman Sarwar Khan has been negotiating with Saqlain, who we registered before the start of the season.

“We understand that he has been given clearance to play and he is in our 12 for Sunday.”

Ishaq added: “We wanted to make sure that his clearance came through and that all his other activities have been sorted out.

“He isn’t available for our match tomorrow at Gomersal but we hope that he will play for us in the league before long.

“Saqlain has a contract to coach our juniors twice a month, and he will be at junior practice on Monday.”

Mills have also registered Pakistani Test batsman Azhar Mahmood.

However, as the 34-year-old is contracted to Kent, who he has played for already this season, there is much less chance that he will figure.

As if the prospect of facing Saqlain wasn’t bad enough, Saltaire have suffered a further blow.

Their pace bowler Imran Arif has been transferred to Birmingham League club Kidderminster Victoria on the orders of Worcestershire, who Arif plays for.

The transfer went through yesterday.