And this guy wasn’t good enough to be selected for the tour of England. 
Sussex (560-5 dec) beat Nottinghamshire (165 & 150) by an innings & 245 runs
Mushtaq Ahmed conjured up a second County Championship title in four years for Sussex, which allowed them to strike a huge blow for the small counties.
The former Pakistan leg-spinner claimed career-best figures of nine for 48, taking his 100th wicket of the season to enable Sussex to complete the double following the C & G Trophy, which they won last month.
Mushtaq turned to face east – roughly in the direction of Newark – and kissed the turf after he bowled Ryan Sidebottom to claim that 100th wicket. He was engulfed by jubilant team-mates again when he pinned Andrew Harris lbw to clinch victory.
Mushtaq has been a devout Muslim for six years and his religious convictions are respected in a close-knit and happy dressing room.
“I would like to thank Allah for giving us victory and for us winning the toss,” Mushtaq said.
“I would like to thank Allah as well, because he has clearly played his part,” Sussex captain Chris Adams said. “I’m serious about that, because Mushtaq has brought his religion to the club and the players understand and respect his beliefs.”
Lancashire, runners-up in the C & G final, again pushed Sussex hard but had to settle for another second place. They have not won the championship outright since 1934, a barren run that proves that being a wealthy county does not guarantee success.
Sussex have the smallest playing staff in the country, just 18 – 11 of whom are products of a successful youth and academy system. They do not have the finances to make high-profile signings but they have recruited shrewdly, not least with their overseas players.
Mushtaq, 36, has taken 369 wickets in his four seasons with the county and Rana Naved, the Pakistan swing bowler, 89 in 15 games in two seasons.
“We are a small club with a big-club mentality,” Adams said. “Perhaps other counties who are not Test match venues can learn from us how success can be achieved.”
Peter Moores, who left Sussex 12 months ago to become the England and Wales Cricket Board’s national academy manager, may have helped Adams lay the foundations for success but they have been built on by Mark Robinson, the county’s new manager.
“Under Peter I was second team coach, but he always treated me as his assistant,” Robinson said. “He involved me in important decisions and that made it easier for me to follow him.” Mushtaq was rightly hailed as the hero yesterday but Sussex’s success has been a team effort. Though Murray Goodwin and Adams were the only batsmen to pass 1,000 runs, Sussex usually batted as an effective unit.
Yasir Arafat, a Pakistani all-rounder, proved a capable deputy when Rana was away on international duty in mid-season and Jason Lewry, a 35-year-old left-am seamer from Worthing, was the unsung hero with 57 wickets.
Sussex certainly proved too strong for Nottinghamshire, who handed over the title they won last season with barely a whimper.
Mushtaq’s nine wickets were the best figures at Trent Bridge in 70 years and Nottinghamshire surrendered their last six wickets in 75 minutes.
The rain arrived just as Sussex were being presented with the trophy, but too late to save Nottinghamshire, who will be relegated unless Yorkshire beat Durham today.
Having taken only one point from this game, they will have only themselves to blame.
Top first-class wicket-takers over the past 10 years
2006 Mushtaq Ahmed (Sussex) 102
2005 S K Warne (Hampshire) 87 (40 in Tests)
2004 Mushtaq Ahmed 84
2003 Mushtaq Ahmed 103
2002 K J Dean (Derbys) 83
M J Saggers (Kent) 83
2001 R J Kirtley (Sussex) 75
2000 G D McGrath (Worcs) 80
1999 A Sheriyar (Worcs) 92
1998 C A Walsh (Gloucs) 106
1997 A M Smith (Gloucs) 83
1996 C A Walsh 85
