Sussex have signed a deal with Benfield Sport International which they hope will generate substantial finance. Benfield, who built their reputation on the re-insurance market, are also reported to be involved in the possible breakaway from the Rugby Football Union of top clubs anxious to secure their own future.
At Sussex, substantial liabilities have been incurred due to compensation payments to former coach Desmond Haynes, secretary Nigel Bett and director of marketing Robert Griffiths, who have all left. On top of this, the club have an architect's bill of some £100,000 to settle following the aborted plan to develope the northern end of the county ground.
Tony Piggott, Sussex's chief executive, said yesterday: ``Because we're raising our profile we need help in many ways, not least in terms of the finance we need to achieve our aims.''
On the playing side, Bevan has been signed on a two-year contract after the county failed to persuade Shane Warne, his countryman, to join them as their overseas player.
Nottinghamshire, another county rejected by Warne, could turn to Paul Strang, the Zimbabwean leg-spinner. Strang has been discarded by Kent, who have the West Indian Carl Hooper returning next season.
Kim Barnett, who spent much of the summer as the central figure in a contest of wills between Derbyshire's players and committee, yesterday signed a contract keeping him with his only county for the rest of his career.
Barnett forced the committee to climb down after they fined him £1,500 for alleged breaches of a ban on media comment about the sudden and acrimonious departure of the captain, Dean Jones, in June. Yesterday, however, the 37-year-old former England opener said: ``The time has come for everybody to put a disastrous season behind us and get firmly behind the new captain, Dominic Cork.''
Cork, the batsman Adrian Rollins and wicketkeeper Karl Krikken recently signed new five-year contracts, while the England fast bowler Devon Malcolm, who is out of contract, has agreed to let Derbyshire know by the end of the month whether he will re-sign or accept one of several contracts on offer elsewhere.
Mike Watkinson, after four years as Lancashire captain, says he does not want to be considered for the post next season.
The former England all-rounder was frustrated by injury throughout the summer as Lancashire again struggled in the championship, which they have not won outright since 1934. Now Watkinson says: ``I feel the time is perhaps right for a change.''
After the second Test was finally washed out in Sheikhupura yesterday, Pakistan have called up Aamir Sohail and the young fast bowler Shahid Nazir for the concluding match of the series with South Africa starting at Faisalabad on Friday.
Only a week ago Sohail was declaring he was ``fed up'' with Pakistan cricket and would never play for the national side again.
South Africa have some good news after it was announced that their fast bowler Allan Donald and wicketkeeper Dave Richardson expect to return for the final Test.
Elsewhere on the subcontinent, Sachin Tendulkar, struggling to regain form, will be replaced as India's captain by his predecessor, Mohammad Azharuddin, according to a national selector.
The unnamed selector told a magazine the action against Tendulkar had the backing of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.